Taking the LABOR out of col labor ation

1. Taking the LABOR out of collaboration … the secret to surviving group process in record time!

2. COLLABORATION A group of individuals, working together, focusing on an issue of mutual concern, making a series of agreements, and willing to manage their own disappointment… … in order to achieve closure.

3. Agreement “Agreement is not giving in. Agreement is what grown-ups do. Productive agreement means that all sides gain more than they lose.” “Collaborative Governance - Getting beyond the blame game.” Oregonian commentary, Dec. 2004 :Gov. John Kitzhaber, OR (D) Gov. JamesGeringer, Wyo (R)

4. Before Collaboration there was… • Arbitration – someone is appointed to decide • Mediation- both sides decide on a mutual solution • Negotiation - both sides agree on a solution (neither really likes) • Litigation- lawyers argue and a jury decides • Legislation - elected representatives decide (usually “splitting the difference”) • Adjudication - everybody argues and a judge decides

5. …and Tony says… • Bureaudification – paperwork gets lost in the shuffle, and everyone forgot what the argument was…

6. Collaboration premises … • “Good of the group” prevails • Reason to collaborate • Agreeable process in place • Fair, Open, Honest ethical standard

7. Ethical Foundation • FAIR • OPEN • HONEST

8. About Ethics “An ethic may be regarded as a mode of guidance for meeting ecological situations so new or intricate … that the path of social expediency is not discernible to the average individual … Ethics are a kind of community instinct in the making.”Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

9. FAIR • Same Opportunity • Same Information • Same Time “Credibility is gained by the thimble-full and lost by the bucket-full.” Bruce Ambs

10. OPEN • Are we really listening? • Clear roles? • Understandable? “Listening gives dignity to the person being listened to.” Justice Stephen Breyer

11. HONEST • All information on the table • NO hidden Agendas • Timeframe reasonable “It’s the intuitive nature of the soul to recognize truth.” Joseph Cornell, Sharing Nature With Children

12. Collaboration …. … is the losers bracket of public decision-making! AJF, 2000 Remember: If any member could get what they want any other way… (lawsuit, political support, funding, etc.)… they’d do it!

13. Challenging the MYTHS of Collaboration Myth Reality Consensus vs Consent Casual Many vs Critical Few Expansion vs Reduction Positions vs Solutions Facilitation vs Brokering Time Eternal vs Deadline

14. Consent not Consensus • Consensus is an elusive term… … too many definitions. • Consent means they won’t sue you! • True consensus takes time … …and the result is usually not definitive. • Consent allows for movement and adjustment. • Consent: participants manage their own disappointment.

15. Critical Few not Casual Many • There are always identifiable “key players” (if you don’t know who they are … ask!) • Non-participation is a tactic for some • “Public Involvement” sessions often seen as a cruel joke • Hold decision-makers accountable to the process

16. Reduction not Expansion • Trained to be all inclusive. • Illusion of accommodation. • Expansion results in too big an elephant. • No real resolution to problems. • Reduction is essential in order to achieve closure.

17. Solution not Position • Everyone brings a position. • Collaboration means you’re willing to be flexible. • “Position defending” not allowed. • Proposals the group might accept are encouraged, but …endless “concerns” are not. Facilitator is always seeking Momentum.

18. Brokering not Facilitating • Classic facilitation leads to expansion. • You are essentially “cutting a deal”… … brokering a solution. • Facilitator must both challenge a tactic … and encourage momentum. • Requires aggressive action by facilitator.

19. Time Critical not Eternity • Effort must have definitive deadline!!! • Clock is broker/facilitator’s best tool. • “Term paper” syndrome often in effect. • Issue resolution often a series of issue/task steps… take them one at a time. • Momentum is the key to resolution.

20. Momentum • Movement by a group … …. in any direction! “If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock.” Justice Arthur Goldberg, 1908 - 1990

21. Gaining Momentum …. “Make every reason a reason to move forward… …and you’ll find yourself doing just that.” Ralph Marston (fellow facilitator)

22. Closure A group decision that is clear to all … …and can be implemented without dissent.

23. Closure Conventional wisdom says … …any group can only agree on about 80% of any issue. We say… …take the 80% - and move on!

24. Groups resist closure because: Fear of subordination of their position Fear of conflict with others, with their values Fear of presuming leadership “Groups are fundamentally incapable of closure on their own!” Sue Diciple

25. Issues vs. Tactics Issue – legitimate concern of an individual or group; something that should be addressed. Tactic – subsurface strategy by individuals in a group process to delay decisions; something that should be avoided.

26. Issues vs. Tactics Remember … No action is often a “win” for some group members (that’s why they resist closure!)

27. All Things Considered Collaboration participants must be responsible for …. … “managing the depths of their own disappointment.”

28. Successful Collaboration Essentials • Ethics • Momentum • Closure

29. Contact information: Sue Diciple Group 2000 NE 42nd Ave #236 Portland, Oregon 97213 503-287-9345 sdiciple@aol.com Tony Faast U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 503-231-6233

30. Three “T“ ‘s for success ! • TIME … hard deadline in our future • TIRED … ready to try a different approach • TOGETHER … realization that any one party can’t do it alone

31. Collaborative REALITY CHECK …. With your neighbor(s) Discuss how the collaborative principles of Ethics … Momentum … Closure … were applied [or not] to a situation you are familiar with Take 10 minutes … share your results w/group