The true meaning of "disagree and commit"

*** Post #40: The true meaning of “disagree and commit”

“Who came up with this fixed schedule and rules for us? It’s too inflexible! I don’t think I can get the childcare to cover the late night weekend shifts,” Weiling (not her real name) pleaded with me, after receiving the document listing out her fixed schedule at the store for the next month. “Management did not get any input from us before creating this schedule.”

Let’s back up a few days. There were a gaps in the stores where we had less people during busy hours and more during lean hours. The schedules were made by the managers but it seemed that they optimized it for themselves versus the store needs. So, my partner Steve and I wanted to take the control back and manage the schedules ourselves. 

Steve suggested that we create a fixed schedule for all employees and make it stringent (e.g., no exchanges with others for shifts, no appeals for changes, etc). The schedules were tough as some employees who were previous on daytime shifts sometimes got assigned weekend evenings and vice versa. Steve wanted to get it out quickly so did not want to get input. I softly pushed back but in the end adopted what I thought was a “disagree and commit” approach with Steve.

Except I messed it all up in how I implemented it.

“Well, it was Steve who came up with the schedule,” I instinctively responded to Weiling, conveniently throwing Steve under the bus. “I know that it is strict, but he wanted to ensure that we have the right coverage as the self made schedules by the managers had some gaps.” Our back and forth went on for another 30 minutes, but during that time, I deflected all blame to Steve and did not own up to the policies that we implemented.

In my mind, I thought I adopted a “disagree and commit” approach but what I implemented was a “disagree but don’t block” angle where I took no accountability or action to commit to the policy. The true meaning of “disagree and commit” only made sense when I recently made a mental shift to own the decision fully. 

What a powerful learning moment! 

“Disagree and commit” means that I need to own up to the decision that I committed to, however unpopular it may be. Instead of blaming others (which is easy), I have to prepare the narrative with others as if I made the decision myself. It was hard to defend it without blaming a colleague or manager for the decision.

Yet, by doing so, I elevated my abilities to be a better team member. 

#DeliverbyWenSzuLin#TheUntaughtLessons