Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Time is of the essence
Bifurcation points have me really thinking. When it comes to communication, I am often learning about things I do all the time, but did not know the psychology of why it worked. I have recently told myself that I need to listen more and talk less. Prior to this conscious effort, i went into meetings with an idea and and a million reasons why it was the best thing since sliced bread. My ideas often got rejected before I could talk about all those reasons and I never knew why until I read about Bifurcation. Just about everyone comes to the meeting with an idea, and until everyone of them is heard, the group is not ready to choose one. By listening more tan talking, I can wait to present an idea and include the ideas already discussed in my explanation. The group at this point will be at the threshold needed to make a decision. This point can only be reached by having everyone heard and possibly exhausted of the topic. The conversation must move in an effort to cover all possible conflicts so that each new idea presented has evolved from the last with new information. The timing of each idea presented is based on the knowledge put forward by the group up to that point. If someone were to walk in toward the end of this conversation with an idea, not having evolved with the group, the idea would be uninformed and most likely ignored. You may even see your same idea get heard and rejected early on in the conversation and then later accepted by the group when delivered at the right time. It reminds me of the old war rule; Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes. Don't give your idea until your sure its a bulls-eye.
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Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you explained this theory. When it comes to groups we all rely on input from each person to build an idea bank. This will lead to a cohesive group think that helps teams become successful. I personally am a bad listener and I enjoy being heard and having my opinion known. Sometimes it is good to play wall flower and absorb the thoughts in a room and comeback with something fresh and collaborative. To shoot down an idea in a group is never a good idea because it makes others hesitant to add their input. The key is to consider the idea and make their thought bond with the groups. This ideology is very effective and your explanation helped me further understand it.
Micah
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post about bifurcation and listening over talking. I was once the same way, talking more often than listening. Thanks to helpful advice from others, listening is now a much more productive way for me to get things done. Timing is required for talking, inputting your ideas and thoughts in at the right critical moments. Just as you put it, as the group evolves, their acceptances of ideas changes. An idea that might not have been accepted in the beginning of the evolution may be the best decision towards the end of its evolution. I suppose this can go in multiple forms of communication. Such as reading other peoples posts before posting your own to evolve your ideas. It is best to listen before we speak!
I like this topic. Often, I have been in groups, where a few outgoing and expressive people dominate and those who are more thoughtful or more reserved (or better listeners)are completely left out. In college specifically, when there isn't a professor around to call on the students who are less forthcoming with thier opinions, groups can end up very lopsided. Ironically, those who talk the most often think others are lazy. Understanding the idea of bifurcation, helps put these group dynamics in a new perspective. Giving each group member a chance and encouraging each person to contribute builds synergy as well. The idea that comes up later in the meeting may spark a whole different series of ideas. One final thought, hearing the same people in the group talking constantly makes participation boring and repeatitive.
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