Kathy is an office manager at a growing law firm that specializes in pursuing awards for accident victims. She is assigned as the head of a problem-solving group to decide on where to locate a new, expanded office downtown. A major decision facing the group is to rent space in a sleek, new office building or renovate space in a former factory building. The space in the old factory building would have brick walls, and resemble a large loft. During the second meeting on this topic, the discussion has become quite heated, with comments such as these: “Are we going to look like a law firm, or a wild, creative advertising gang?” “The new office building might give the impression that we are a rich law firm exploiting our poor clients. The converted office building would look like we are human and caring.” The mood of the problem-solving group is turning toward negativism and disagreement. To help deal with some of the emotion that has surfaced during the second meeting, group leader Kathy

call for a standup meeting, which will probably shorten the debate.

ask that each person with a strong preference for either type of rental space fully express his or her opinion, including facts and feelingsm

explain that since this is a law firm, only facts, not feelings, can be entered into debate.

explain to the group that disagreement on major issues is dysfunctional (harmful).