Consensus and a great American Hero!

This Nation recently lost, mourns and continues to mourn the loss of a great Iconic American Hero, Senator John McCain.

In Senator McCain’s final goodbye and advice to the America he so loved was to return our Nation's discourse on all levels to that of civility and understanding that we have more in common that we do in difference.  

In his classic stoic way, Senator McCain, either by accident or design, lived his life with a template that could easily be identified as a practitioner of the Interest based or collaborative based approach to problem solving!   

He was always open and honest, ready to identify the problem (issue) and listen and seek help in the problem solving from the other side of the isle. (interest)..

To me, consensus is easily defined and horribly a misunderstood word in our field.  What it should mean, is that you and the other affected parties work together to come up with a solution that meets as many of BOTH parties interest and this is critical;  support that decision after it is released! It DOES NOT mean a majority, 2/3 majority or anything else! All parties’ must agree and support the collaborative decision made!

Many times on the Senate floor, Senator McCain would loudly and publicly proclaim that he needed the other side of the isle to be listened to and the views incorporated in the decision (again, the other sides interest!). Without this consensus, the Senator knew and proclaimed that he would not have buy in and by our previous definition could neither agree and then ultimately support.  

His honesty was profoundly tested in the election of 2012 when at a town meeting in Arizona.  A constituent ready to ask a question identified then candidate Obama as an Arab.
The Senator could have played politics as usual but he didn’t!  He corrected the woman, at his own peril, and stated she was incorrect, that his opponent was a good family man, and not what the politicos had attempted further discredit Obama as a US Citizen, which the record reflects and the Senator knew to be untrue!    
This was not a one time abrogation from an errant politician!  Whether it was as a young man, naval aviator, POW, Congressman or Senator, John McCain realized the interest of the United States transcended Party, office or government entity.

Another example of the Senator putting Country first and consensus building was the Senator’s unlikely alliance with Senator John Kerry.  These men came from completely different backgrounds and points of view, especially on the war in Vietnam. Senator McCain realized that both men believed in and loved their country and both men wanted to put their Country first.  Normalization in relations with Vietnam met that end and the Senator used these building blocks to start building consensus. Both Senators put country first, recognized each other’s interest and built consensus to where we now have normal relations with Vietnam.     

He realized that only by identifying issues and interest and striving for true consensus, was the only way we should act when seeking what was best for our Nation.

We at I & I Resolutions want to acknowledge the Heroic life of this great American.  We believe, like the Senator, that we have more in common than we do in conflict. Whatever your workplace environment is, there is a potential for conflict or dysfunctional communications.  We at I & I cannot guarantee results but we can guarantee that we will work tirelessly for you to identify your problems, issues and interests and that our actions together will put your Organization in a better place to possibly come to a decision that includes and will be supported by all!  That is the best we can all hope for and that is what the Life of Senator McCain was ultimately all about!

Thank You Senator McCain for this and may you rest in Valhalla, the mythical final resting place for heroes and warriors! 

Until next time……

Andy/s/ and Thomas/s/