Excavating Our Frames of Mind: The Key to Dialogue and Collaboration

Author: McKee M.

Source: Social Work, Volume 48, Number 3, July 2003 , pp. 401-408(8)

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Abstract:

Conversations between colleagues who hold divergent views of a case or practice situation often take the form of a win–lose debate in which contenders, arguing from within their respective frameworks, find they are unable to reach mutual understanding. The resulting impasse makes mutual understanding and collaboration difficult. Our typical way of resolving the impasse is to invoke the evidence for our own position, hoping that the facts somehow speak for themselves. Strangely, this may only exacerbate the impasse and worsen our view of our colleagues, whom we presume to be ignoring the facts. This article attempts to show that reflecting on the frame—not debating the facts—might be a more helpful way to approach such impasses and to reach mutual understanding.

Keywords: COLLABORATION; DIALOGUE; FRAME REFLECTION; REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2003-07-01

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Social Work is the premiere journal of the social work profession. Widely read by practitioners, faculty, and students, it is the official journal of NASW and is provided to all members as a membership benefit. Social Work is dedicated to improving practice and advancing knowledge in social work and social welfare. Its articles yield new insights into established practices, evaluate new techniques and research, examine current social problems, and bring serious critical analysis to bear on problems in the profession. Major emphasis is placed on social policy and the solutions to serious human problems.
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