Growth
Fundamental solutions
Answers are internal
Training when needed
Learning from experience
Interdependence
Customer focused
Openness
Differentiation
High self-esteem
Informed choice
Empathetic listening
Decay
Symptomatic solutions
Answers are external
Training when scheduled
Learning to please
Dependence/counter-dependence
Boss focused
Triangulation and gossip
Fusion
Low Self-esteem
The �right� choice
Listening to get a
word in
A key
difference between cooperative workplaces and those that are not is how
individuals and groups go about solving problems. Life, for individuals and
organizations is problematic. There will never exist a perpetual state of �no
problems.�
People in reasonably
productive and healthy organizations will more often than not deal with
problems in terms of fundamental solutions rather than symptomatic solutions,
that is, Band-Aid, quick fix approaches.
An example could be
dealing with a work group that is not meeting expectations and which appears
to have a lot of �personality� problems. The Quick Fix would be to identify a
�problem person� and get rid of him or her. Typically, the employees and
managers will feel better at first…ah, problem solved, what a relief. Then,
for some inexplicable reason, the group goes back to unresolved and
counterproductive conflict and people end up feeling worse and disillusioned.
Perhaps another �problem� person is identified, or perhaps a �team-building�
session is conducted, and still, things go back to where they were, or worse.
Perhaps the fundamental solution approach would be
looking at the group as a system with no one individual to blame. Perhaps the
communications skills are poor, or some or all members are not adequately
trained, or there is a lack of clarity in roles, decision-making and
authority.
Typically, fundamental
or root causes of problems in organizations, unlike superficial appearances
of causes, are not easily discerned.
This does not negate the fact that one person could be a
main source of problems. Once the systems approach is tried, in all fairness
to everyone, and that fails, then is the time to take action about the
behavior of a certain individual or individuals.
When people have a �symptomatic� view of problems and apply symptomatic
solutions, they feel better right away, but later on end up feeling worse,
that is, disillusioned. The problem didn�t go away, it only got worse. If
they then apply another and another symptomatic solution, things only get
progressively worse. However, when people apply fundamental solutions to
problems, they feel worse at first, but later on true and lasting improvement
is experienced and they feel better. As the fundamental approach is taken
time after time with problems, the organization becomes increasingly
healthier, that is, more productive and effective.�
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From Cooperative Workplaces�