Unreconcilable Differences LO17723

Richard C. Holloway (thejournal@thresholds.com)
Fri, 10 Apr 1998 11:26:11 -0700

Replying to LO17715 --

The loose ends of unreconciled differences are littering the landscape of
our lives, Bill. It starts with parents, siblings, then teachers and
fellow students. By the time we're old and wise, we've forgotten probably
most of those differences we never reconciled. But that doesn't mean that
we shouldn't attempt to . . . be different.

Reconciliation is usually through surrender, compromise, or finding mutual
agreement (integration). Reconciliation can also be through the brotherly
(sisterly?) act of love that acknowledges a difference as less significant
than the threads we share in common with one another (like our basic
humanity, etc).

Values and belief system certainly cloud the issues--and we should be
looking for the "significant" rather than the "dramatic" elements of the
difference. Power (the need to dominate) is also an element that
compounds efforts to reconcile. I'm convinced that it is through the
ongoing effort for personal mastery that we will find the most success at
reconciliation. To be more direct, through the simple words, "let's
talk--and listen."

Bill Harris wrote:

> One thing I haven't seen as I follow this thread from a bit afar is a
> discussion regarding how a learning organization deals with unreconcilable
> differences. That's what I think I meant by my "tough issues" query.
> It's not clear the group will ever decide one of the "opinions" on this
> matter is right. It seems possible :) that such a potential for ongoing
> disagreement may also exist in our workplaces.

-- 
Thresholds--developing critical skills for living organizations
Richard C. "Doc" Holloway       Olympia, WA
Please visit our new website, still at <http://www.thresholds.com/>
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