Intel: "Constructive Confrontation"

I was reading about Intel and some of their cultural beliefs recently. In the DNA is ingrained the idea that conflict is encouraged, challenges to ideas promotes ideas to be thought thru. They call it "Contstructive Confrontation."

The concept seems logical. More discussion, no backing down, defend and (dis)qualify. Although, this is seemingly more easily agreed upon verbally than exercised in business these days.

Small Companies, Large Fortune 500, Amongst Partners, Clients, Vendors...

Seemingly all of our interactions have a cloud of deceit and slice of falsehood. People are not encouraged to challenge each other and disagree. Maybe this is more of a protective instinct set on by our reaction to a shaky economy full of unpredictability. Or, people have some more evolving to do.

Scrap all of it I say. If you can't stand up and say "that's crap and here's why" then I don't believe you have the courage and where-with-all to be successful in the first place. Take a position. Have an opinion, defend it.

What happened to being open and honest without fear of retribution or judgment, if indeed, you have the best interest at heart for the organization? I can look into someone's eyes and tell you what they want to say half the time. Saves us both the time. Unfortunately, they don't often step up and express their beliefs, opinions or comments to prove me right or disprove my perception. Fear cripples most of us. Job security is a blanket of protection often blocking authenticity and it is highly flammable.

37 signals talks about how they do this delicately and still make agreement and encourage debate. They ask simple questions like "who wants it more?" which can often prevent one person from taking a strong disagreement into the depths of a divide that widens with discourse.

Go. Make something happen.