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?

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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