we have 4MfWKh the need to be more open. We never know the
extent to which we are undermining any movement toward a deeper
type of openness. The end result is the curious phenomenon of "open
closedness," when everyone feels he has a right to air views, yet no
one really listens and reflects. "Talking at" one other substitutes for
genuine communication and dialogue.
On the other hand, there also can be a positive synergy betwe
participative and reflective openness. When this synergy develops'^ is
a powerful force to undermine politics and game playing. The ke in my
experience, is both making it safe to speak openly and de oping the
skills to productively challenge one's own and othe thinking.
To see how this can work, consider the case of a member ofj
senior team in a company noted for its "openness." The of
found himself, over time, being more and more criticized for specil
decisions he made. But no one ever mentioned that a more gene
opinion was forming about his attitude. To the other managers, was
a "free spender" who "cared more about looking good about his
function than about the corporation as a whole." Beh| his back,
people discussed their opinion of him, but no one brc it up publicly.
They felt that such "personal" views were inapj priate for business
meetings. No one asked him directly about; Instead, they continued
to be "open" and forthright, bluntly critic ing his individual decisions.
But, they never shared the reason behind their views.
The manager felt himself slipping into a position which the ot all
privately called "being in the barrel." It was a general ostratii which
others had endured in the past. Moreover, he had no idea wjj he was in
the barrel. Feeling isolated and attacked, he spent mo and more time
explaining and justifying each individual action which in turn was
seen as further evidence that he cared only < his own department. In
fact, he was in a "no win" bind. Whether I vigorously defended his
views, or kept silent, it mattered not. reinforced the other managers'
negative impression of him.
Why didn't the other officers tell this person how they felt at him?
It wasn't because of personal antipathy. Most said that the] were his
friends. But they were afraid of creating an upsetting i ment (or, more
charitably, they didn't see how to communicate lY view
constructively). There was also a more subtle reason, which gets
to the heart of reflective openness. Most of the ot executives
never saw the point of bringing the matter up. They