Creating and Maintaining a Positive Classified and Certificated (IBB) Climate

March 20, 2012ERNN Annual Conference

Yakima, WA

Creating and Maintaining a Positive Classified and Certificated

(IBB) Climate

Overview of today’s sessionTraditional Bargaining versus Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB)

WAYFO?(We save lives!)

The Orting School District storyBut first…

Creating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Daily Affirmations


Orting School District’s StoryHistory of Traditional Bargaining

And VERY antagonistic relationships with both PSE and OEA

History of rolling over contractsHistory of guarded communications and intermittent trust

2010: OEA bargained w IBB; PSE refused


IBB DefinedA problem-solving process

conducted in a principled manner

to create effective solutionsusing “Consensus” decision-making

While improving the relationship between parties


What is IBB?The Basic Principles:

Problem-solving is the objective; not winning or losing

Focus on the problemConsider the concerns, needs, fears, worries

and interests that underlie both teams’ perspectives

Generate a variety of options or solutions for mutual gain before deciding what to do

Base resolution on mutually agreed upon objective standards, procedures or values


Interest Based BargainingIs a discussion that allows for an

understanding of the interests underlying positions

Moves people away from contending positions

Promotes mutual educationAllows a collaborative atmosphere to

developSets the stage for reframing the issueEncourages the generation of multiple

optionsPermits the search for a creative solutionCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Traditional Bargaining (Hard)By focusing on POSITIONS, the

parties in a dispute:See only a predetermined way to solve a problem

Spend time staking and defending opposing positions rather than dealing with the heart of the matter

Tend to settle with a compromise rather than what either side really needs

Limit creative optionsRisk damaging ongoing relationshipsCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

IBB BehaviorsFocus on issues and interests, not on

people or positionsDescribe, not accuseUnderstand issues. Do not judge themRespect the roles and responsibilities of

othersSeek to meet mutual and separate

interestsUse consensus to decideAvoid coercion and manipulationSustain the relationship and the process


Traditional Bargaining Behaviors

ProposalCounter-proposalCounter-to-counter-proposalCounter-to-counter-to-counter-proposal

More Haggling (depending on how strong you feel your position is)

More Threatening (depending on how right you feel your position is)

Stressful holding-out until you’re SURE it’s their final offer

AgreementCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Traditional Bargaining? (Duckman)


What is IBB?The starting point:

A full understanding of your own interests

The strategy: Open discussion of interestsEncourage other side to openly discuss their

interestsEach team member is expected to contribute in

some fashion in the sessionsBrainstorm options with an open mind

The solutions:Evaluated according to objective standardsAgreed upon by consensus decision


What is IBB? (Car commercial)


An IBB Strategy is NOT about...Exercising our limited power for narrow

constituent gains Seeking compromise solutionsQuick decisionsAddressing only issues we “have to”Focusing on areas of disagreementQuestions of “Why?” for the purpose of

blameSeeing problemsUltimatumsBelieving primarily in the strength and

knowledge of the individualCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

An IBB Strategy is NOT about...Butting heads togetherCommitment to positions based upon

pressure“This way” onlyMonologueBeing mistrustingReconciling positionsFocusing on the mettle of the partiesPushing each other back and forthIndividual focusInsistingCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

PpreoobplleemSeparate the People from the Problem!

Do not blame the other party for the problem

Discuss your perceptionsImagine the issue from the other party’s

perspectiveRecognize and understand emotionsDo not assume the other party intends what

you fear mostCommunicate clearly and effectivelyCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Traditional Bargaining?The starting point:

Adversarial positions

The strategy: Gradual adjustmentsAdvocate your positionDetract from your opponent’s positionOpportunistic behavior

The solutions:Trade and compromise toward a midpointDecision based upon power


IBB Process1. Select the issue

Ensure the issue is clearly stated and understood by all

Use a mutually acceptable method to decide the order in which issues will be discussed

2. Discuss interests3. Establish standards4. Generate options5. Evaluate options6. Develop the solution

And monitor the results…


IBB Process2. Discuss the Interests behind the Issue

List the interests on a chartDiscuss and clarify each interestRecognize the legitimacy of both parties

interests to define the scope of the issueConvert positions to interests – all positions

are based upon interestsIdentify mutual interestsRestate the issue if necessary


IBB Bargaining? (Dentist Negotiation)


Group Consensus6. Develop the solution

When all members agree upon a single solution and can honestly say:

“I believe you understand my point of view”“I understand your point of view”“Whether or not this is my preferred solution, I support it because it was reached openly and fairly and it is the best solution for us at this time.”


Consensus Guidelines

Listen – pay attention to othersEncourage participation – but do not

embarrass anyoneShare informationDo not change your mind to avoid conflictDo not agree too quickly….explore options


Comparison: Interest Based and Positional Strategies

Interest Based

Positional – Soft

Positional - Hard

Style

Collaboration Accommodation, compromising, avoidance

Competition

Role of Parties

Participants are problem-solvers

Participants are friends

Participants are adversaries



Interest

Based

Positional – Soft

Positional - Hard

Goal

Wise outcome reached efficiently and amicably

Agreement Victory

Relationship of parties

Soft on people, hard on the problem Be trustworthy

Soft on people, soft on the problem Trust others

Hard on the people, hard on the problem Distrust others



Interest Based Strategy

Positional – Soft Positional - Hard

Issue Control

Focus on interests, not positions

Change your position easily

Dig into your position

Explore interests

Make offers

Make threats

Be flexible – understand alternatives

Disclose your bottom line

Mislead as to your bottom line



; Interest Based

Strategy

Positional – Soft Positional - Hard

Options

Invent options for mutual gain

Accept one-sided losses to reach agreement

Demand one-sided gains as the price of agreement

Develop multiple options to choose from, decide later

Search for a single answer; the one they will accept

Search for the single answer; the one you will accept


WAYFO?

Creating and Maintaining a Positive Climate comes down to WAYFO?

WhatAreYouFocusingOn?


WAYFO?

If you focus on the negatives, the results will be negative

If you focus on your counterparts as “adversaries,” the negotiations will take on an adversarial flair

If you focus solely on what you want, then so will theyUnless “they” come up with a solution that is good for both sides (and decide to share it with you!)


WAYFO?

If you focus on the positives, the results will be positive

Our institutions are about students! Keep the focus positively on student learning!


The Dr. Cooley Story In Teaching the Elephant to Dance, author Jim

Belasco tells the story of Dr. Cooley, a famous brain surgeon. He followed Cooley on his rounds one day and, en route to the operating room, saw the surgeon stop and talk to a man mopping the hallway. They conversed for nearly 10 minutes before Cooley dashed into the operating room. His curiosity raised, Belasco commented, “That was a long conversation.” The man mopping the floor replied, “Dr. Cooley talks to me quite often.” The author asked, “What do you do at the hospital?” The man replied,

“We save lives.”Creating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

What is our “We Save Lives?”


Mission Statement:All Students Prepared for College,

Careers, and Life“We prepare students for college,

careers, and life!”

Orting School District’s StoryEvery department of the District was

asked to identify their “We Save Lives”“How do YOU prepare students for

college, careers, and life?”

2010 LoA w PSE: Bus Drivers as Tutors2012 LoA w PSE: CTE/Sped placements

w members for Job Shadows/Work Experience


Vision Statement:All students will develop

knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be successful life-long learners and engaged citizens in a diverse global societyQuality instruction in every classroomArticulated, aligned curriculum and assessments

across the system21st Century teaching, learning, and leading


In everything we do, we will:Focus on learning, collaboration,

results and continuous improvementEnsure data-driven decisionsProvide equity of opportunities and

resourcesCommunicate with and engage

students, families, staff and communityCreating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Critical questions that guide our work:

What do students need to know?How will we know they have learned it?What will we do when they haven’t

learned it?What will we do when they already

know it?Creating and Maintaining a Positive Climate

Contact Information:

Jon Bell, Director of Special [email protected] Whitesell Street NE, Orting, WA 98360(360) 893-6500


Documents

Creating and Maintaining a Positive Classified and Certificated (IBB) Climate