New York Lawyer
November 21, 2002

Q:
What do you think of someone who asks for everyone�s opinion, as if they are taking it into account, but then just goes ahead and does what he feels like?

I�ve never known this partner to change this mind, but he always goes through this business of soliciting opinions and input, like on what we should do on a case or how we should go forward. I�ve gotten pretty cynical but I can�t very well say, "Why should I tell you, you�ll just do what you want anyway?"

It�s condescending, really; he acts like he�s being very inclusive and a great guy, but it�s all for show.

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A:

Being proactive -- whether it�s being inclusive, making sure people are happy about assignments -- is great so long as the aim is to do something about the issue and build on it. When it�s an empty public relations exercise, it wears thin pretty quickly and actually does more harm than if it had never been done in the first place. It would be preferable for this fellow to just be a dictator, making decisions any way he wants to, than to act egalitarian and violate that spirit thereafter.

Just to be a devil�s advocate, you may not know how he uses the information. That�s a fault on his part, too -- asking for input and then not sharing how you have used it leaves everyone wondering if they�ve just participated in a useless ploy. But it could be that in fact he does use the information he gets -- either to add a nuance to his approach, or to validate his thoughts, or in some other way. Be careful before automatically assuming that he�s just doing it "for show."

If he is not actually taking the opinions he seeks into account, it�s too bad, because inclusivity can be highly effective all around. First, from the partner�s standpoint, he can learn. There�s always something to be gained, maybe just a detail, from other people�s views. People who think they�ve learned all they can and can�t glean anything more from others are cheating themselves and their clients out of valuable information and thoughts. Second, those who are included will like their workplace more IF the information is taken seriously. There is nothing more validating than having someone more senior to you ask for your opinion. It signals respect, an open workplace, a mood of intellectual inquiry, and egalitarianism: all things that lead to healthy workplaces and atmospheres alive with a vibrant exchange of views. Third, if in fact the person is sincere, it will send a signal that he is open to input at other times when he doesn�t ask for it, especially for people who might otherwise be cowed by a power differential from speaking up. Getting as wide a variety of views as possible can only help in making sound decisions.

I�m not sure there�s much you can do about this, especially given the power differential; it seems like something you just have to live with. I agree with you that it�s frustrating, but one hopes that this person has other positive attributes that make up for his ham-handed attempt to be "open."

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work