Being able to work despite escalation – defining "non-goals" as a unifying foundation to continue working in escalated situations

Sometimes situations are so entrenched, and perceptions so cemented that it is difficult to find a direct path to a constructive clarification of the situation. In these cases, the joint formulation of so-called "non-goals" and the undesirable future can help to work together again in a task-orientated manner.

A moderator (superior, project leader) asks the following questions and gives enough time to bring the non-goals to life:

1. In a worst-case scenario, in which direction could the situation that has arisen drift if the parties do not seek (interim) solutions with each other in good time?
2. What kinds of feelings would arise for the individuals involved if the situation were to drift (if the disaster took its course) ... What would they wish for in retrospect?
3. What precisely is undesirable for everyone?
4. What would the parties involved have to take responsibility for? What steps would they have failed to take?
5. What will and must everyone involved contribute here and now so that the undesirable future will not materialize?

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