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Differences that change a conversation

I’m not attacking you. I’m testing the plan.

Challenge and authority

Jonas publicly tests Anna’s plan because he sees challenge as a professional duty. Anna reads it as undermining her role after a decision has been made.

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Anna presents a new process during a meeting and points to its stages.
We’re implementing this process next month.
Jonas raises a specific concern about a step that may slow implementation.
Why this way? That step will slow implementation without improving quality.
Anna and Jonas silently interpret the same challenge differently, as undermining a decision and as a professional duty.
He’s challenging the decision in front of everyone.
If I see a risk, it’s my job to say it.
Anna closes the decision while Jonas continues to point out a risk in the plan.
Jonas, the decision has been made.
That doesn’t remove the risk.
After the meeting, Anna and Jonas calmly define the boundary between debate and executing the decision.AFTER THE MEETING
I’m not fighting you. I’m testing the plan.
And I need to know when the debate is over.
Em, the Empatyzer coach
Jonas sees public dissent as responsibility for the plan, while Anna also hears it as challenging her role after a decision has been announced. As a result, they draw the line between debate and execution in different places. Separate the moment for testing a plan from the moment for executing the decision. Agree where and until when challenge is useful.