| THE SHARED POOL OF MEANING | | | | Whoever makes the decision will benefit by |
| A skilled professional will find a way to get all of | | | | having the most information available. We aren't |
| the free flow of relevant information out into the | | | | saying we want a consensus opinion, or that the |
| open, It's the principle of the "Shared Pool of | | | | president doesn't make the final decision. As a |
| Meaning". This is the synergistic pool of ideas and | | | | matter of fact, a good idea is to state up front |
| feelings of the entire group | | | | that there will be 2 phases to the conversation. |
| Getting ideas into the "pool" have 3 major | | | | First, a Discussion or Dialogue phase where all of |
| benefits: | | | | the ideas are added to the pool of meaning. |
| 1. The larger the Pool, the better the decisions. | | | | Second, after all ideas are shared, discussion is |
| 2. The time you spend up front is more than | | | | shut off and the Decision phase begins with |
| made up by faster, more committed action later | | | | decisions made by whoever is in charge. |
| on. An extra 20 minutes spent drawing thoughts | | | | Using these skills will make you a better |
| out of reluctant individuals might save hundreds of | | | | communicator and leader in the Multi-Housing |
| hours over the next few years. | | | | community. It will give you insights into others |
| 3. People who don't get their ideas into the pool | | | | that you never would have received any other |
| are rarely committed to the solution & silently | | | | way. It will help you to listen and respect others in |
| criticize the decisions. People that have at least a | | | | ways that 99% of the rest of the population |
| small part of the decision will work harder to | | | | never truly understands. |
| make it succeed. | | | | This article written by Steve Hoogenakker Steve |
| Let's think of this with a planned board meeting. | | | | has 20 years in the landscaping field. |