Purpose
Analyzes an issue/situation across multiple perspectives. Provides a picture of how things are right now.
As a negotiation tool it helps meet three of the core elements of negotiation:
- All must feel listened to – their perspectives accurately reflected
- Start with common ground; – where there is agreement
- Work in partnership
- Done well it reflects current reality
- Start with common ground; – where there is agreement
- Work in partnership
- It helps “peel the onion”
- Gives opportunities to ask the question behind the question
- Dig deeper to find more meaningful information
- It serves as a bridge to action planning by helping the user learn
- What needs to be maintained/enhanced?
- What needs to change?
Instructions
This tool works best when it is focused; select one specific issue/scenario or part of a person’s life to discuss within the working/not working grid.
Tips:
- Make sure that all of the people who represent the key perspectives are present
- To learn and effectively represent the person’s perspective talk to the person before the meeting.
- Make it easy for people to write up their perspectives, post 2 sheets of pre-labeled (working, make sense, the up side/not working doesn’t make sense the down side) flips chart pages per perspective
- Once everyone has completed their pages review what everyone has written with the group and talk about what the possible next steps would be