am I too naive?

[Callie McAllie]

Just came from a good-naturedly contentious work meeting where people cannot agree on the outcome or process of a new effort we're undertaking. The outcome, to my mind, and I'm the boss of this group, is quite clear, but people just aren't getting it. How we get there is a bit more nebulous for me, and yet crystal clear (although two different versions) for others.

I was kind of surprised that people had such differing views on how this will go and what the goal is. And the problem is that we, as an agency, are going to have to find agreement and then go out into the world and help all our stakeholders to come to agreement. It's about money, and whenever you start talking about money, people get all venal and back-bitey, and I want to keep the conversation elevated, above that greedy "I got mine and I want yours too."

But after this meeting, where my own staff can't even agree or figure it out, I'm wondering if maybe I'm just too naive. Remember that early 1970's coke commercial? I'd like to teach the world to sing? That's where I'm coming from.

Here's the link to the commercial for those too young to remember it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOEU87SBTU