Past/Future
Orientation Environment: An Assessment
By Stephen M. Dent
Contributing Writer
Article Date: 02.04.03
How do you view your own work environment--your company's culture? Is
it oriented toward the past or the future? Based on your best knowledge and your
personal experience, where does your organization fall on each continuum below?
To
get a broader view of your corporate culture--and to learn how other people in
your company perceive it--forward this article to other individuals in your department
or your company. Ask them to spend a few moments taking this assessment, then
arrange to meet and talk about the results. Are people ready to partner, or do
they need to further develop their partnering skills?
1. Win/Lose vs. Win/Win
A win/lose conflict resolution style (Past Orientation) creates losers.
Losers are not happy, self-satisfied, or proud. They want to get even. A win/win
conflict resolution and problem-solving style (Future Orientation) works toward
achieving a mutually agreeable plan.
In terms of its conflict resolution style, is your organization closer to a
Past Orientation or a Future Orientation?
 |
| Win/Lose |
Win/Win |
2. Individual Performance vs. Teamwork
A team spirit requires a certain amount of trust among members (Future
Orientation). Without trust and openness, teams cannot perform well. With no appreciable
teamwork, an organization won't achieve potential synergies, nor will it encourage
creativity and innovation (Past Orientation).
How would you rate your organization's ability to support the concept of teamwork?
|
| Individual
Performance |
Teamwork |
3. Stagnation vs. Dynamism
Stagnation occurs when there is no infusion of new energy into the
organization or relationship. In a closed organization with no partnerships (Past
Orientation), change is undesirable and suppressed. Dynamism results from the
infusion of new energy and ideas (Future Orientation), and it is essential if
a business is to successfully change with the demands of its customers and markets.
How stagnant or dynamic is your organization's culture?
|
| Stagnation |
Dynamism |
4. Alienation vs. Collaboration
Organizations that isolate themselves cannot form partnerships with
others. There is a lack of trust toward people both inside and outside the organization,
which results in alienation (Past Orientation). Collaboration (Future Orientation),
on the other hand, involves the give and take of information and a degree of self-disclosure,
which results in building trust between people.
How would you rate your organization on the alienation vs. collaboration scale?
|
| Alienation |
Collaboration |
5. High Need for Control vs. Empowering Others
In order to form a partnership, we need to release some control over
events. If an organization is intent in controlling every aspect of the partnership
(Past Orientation), the partnership will fail. Every partnership must be mutually
beneficial; therefore, both partners have to make sure they are benefiting. This
does not mean domination of the partnership. Rather, it means empowering others
so participants can work collaboratively toward a mutually satisfying result (Future
Orientation).
How would you rate your organization on this scale?
|
| High
Need for Control |
Empowering
Others |
6. Making Decisions Based on Past Experiences vs. Negotiating
a Plan and Agreeing on Outcomes
When organizations continue to make decisions based on past experiences,
they limit themselves by not being open to new possibilities (Past Orientation).
Companies wanting to form partnerships need to be willing to negotiate expectations
and then hold people accountable for doing what they say they'll do (Future Orientation).
If you continue to hear statements such as "They'll never do that" or "That's
not possible," you probably work in an organization that has a Past Orientation.
How would you rate your organization?
|
Making
Decisions Based
on Past Experience |
Negotiating
a Plan and Agreeing on Outcomes |
Scoring
The six continuums relate to the Six Partnering Attributes™. How did
you rate your organization for each attribute?
- Win/Lose vs. Win/Win (Attribute: Win/Win Orientation)
- Individual Performance vs. Teamwork (Attribute: Ability to Trust)
- Stagnation vs. Dynamism (Attribute: Comfort with Change)
- Alienation vs. Collaboration (Attribute: Self-Disclosure and Feedback)
- High Need for Control vs. Empowering Others (Attribute: Comfort with Interdependence)
- Making Decisions Based on Past Experience vs. Negotiating a Plan and Agreeing
on Outcomes (Attribute: Past/Future Orientation in decision making)
A rating of less than 3 on any continuum indicates that your organization is
weak in that attribute. If your ratings for all 6 add up to less than 18, your
company may have a culture based on a Past Orientation. A high overall score on
this assessment indicates a strong partnering culture.
"Past/Future Orientation Environment: An Assessment" is adapted from "Increasing
Your Future Orientation" workbook, © 2001 Partnership Continuum Inc. To order,
go online or call toll-free: www.partneringintelligence.com
1-888-292-0323 .
About the Author:
Stephen M. Dent, founding partner of the consulting firm Partnership Continuum, Inc., is an award-winning organizational consultant working with such clients as USWEST, Inc. Northwest Airlines, AT&T, GE Capital Services, the U.S. Postal Service, NASA, Bank of America and Exult. He lives in Minneapolis MN.
Stephen M. Dent
Partnership Continuum, Inc. www.partneringintelligence.com
1201 Yale Place Suite 1908
Minneapolis, MN
e-mail Sdent@partneringintelligence.com
phone 612.375.0323
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