Creative abrasion
Featured in the Developing an Emotionally Intelligent Team training manual
By Mike Bagshaw
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
The concept of creative abrasion stems from the thought of fusing two ideas that seem to be opposite, without diminishing either. To do this, you have to hold two contradictory ideas simultaneously and be receptive to both. Being receptive is important. It means that instead of one idea blocking the other, ways emerge of gaining the advantages of both. The common reaction to finding two polarised viewpoints is to attempt to nudge each towards the other. This seems admirable as a way to keep the peace but compromise is not the way to innovation. It can pay well to encourage the abrasion that can, by the nature of its conflicting elements, lead to brand new connections. It can also lead to personal friction. Managing this well calls for strong leadership skills that will not shy away from conflict. Instead, a skilled manager will focus on the conflict, looking first for the salient points of each perspective and then incorporating the best of each, in ways that have never happened before. Positive conflict involves drawing out differences in the group. We need differences to create synergy. This training activity looks at how we can bring disagreement to the surface, instead of allowing certain views to become un-discussable.
You begin the training activity by introducing the concept of creative abrasion and demonstrate it through a group exercise. A group discussion follows, on how to identify conflict in teams and gain benefit from discontent. You then examine a range of strategies for expressing disagreement constructively, which the participants put into practice with a case study. You debrief this exercise and present and discuss ways of dealing positively with team conflict.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to look at how to bring disagreement to the surface, instead of allowing certain views to become un-discussable, giving team members the confidence and skills to confront difficult issues.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:20:00 |
| No of Pages: | 22 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers in programmes on communication, conflict management, team building, and team development. It is designed for teams which have already developed a sound basis of trust, identity and efficacy.
Download the training activity, Creative abrasion as featured in the Fenman training manual; Developing an Emotionally Intelligent Team