[Ailist] A balance worth changing....

[Brian Guest]

Dear all,
 
I am British and have returned to the UK recently after the best part of two decades overseas.
 
One thing that has struck me quite strongly since returning is the accepted style of political interviewing, including that often utilized by the BBC. It is frequently adversarial bordering on the disrespectful, or even just plain disrespectful. It is usually unappreciative. Has it changed or have I, I ask myself.
 
Time after time people appear on TV to give or defend certain views and the interviewer's questions and style treat them as if they were wrongheaded and blind in not seeing the "obvious" light. I mentioned this to some British friends and they understood this practice to be the best way to get to the point and hold a meaningful interview. "Politicians have to be put on the spot otherwise they ramble on saying whatever they want". I disagreed, believing that a skillful appreciative style, and at times a neutral style, can reveal much more. A good interviewer needs to hold the interviewee to the point respectfully and assertively - that is a different point and a different skill.
  
This style of interviewing and general attitude now appears to have spread well beyond politics. 
 
The last two weeks have seen the England soccer manager, Steve McClaren, abused by media and fans alike after some poor performances by the national team. This is nothing new for our national sport. However something that was new was the response to it from one of the most respected figures in the sport - the manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson as reported in today's Guardian newspaper:
 
"Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed what he describes as the "mocking culture" created by reality television shows such as Dancing on Ice, The X Factor, Pop Idol and Strictly Coming Dancing for exacerbating Steve McClaren's plight. 
 
Indeed Ferguson fears these popular programs may have helped inspire a climate of abuse responsible for making the England job near impossible. 
  
"We have a mocking situation in this country now," explained Manchester United's manager, who once employed England's head coach as his assistant. "You see it on all these TV shows where the panellists criticise the contestants. There's a mocking industry now and it's even generated by television programmes. Even when they skate, the panel then criticises them.""
 
I watched a few minutes of the abuse doled out by the British panelist (and founding entrepreneur) towards contestants on American Idol (the X Factor in the UK) before switching the TV off. 
 
Arguments rage in this country about whether things are worse today than they were a generation or two ago - this will always be the case I guess, part of change and human nature. However the recent UN / UNICEF report on child well-being in 21 "rich" countries put the USA and the UK in second to last and last place respectively, with the lowest marks for "family and peer relationships" and "behaviors and risks". 
 
In the UK my own feeling is that, on balance, respect and appreciation for others has deteriorated.
 
I guess my points are old ones illustrated by some new instances. In trying to change, each grain of sand matters - each individual choice of how to be. I guess we continue to need the following amongst many other things:
 
* political leadership which is realistic and appreciative and outwardly sets an appreciative tone 
* media responsibility and leadership beyond satisfying short term market forces for real time abuse
* appreciative parenting 
* business leaders who understand the above in the context of their own challenges and responsibilities to their stakeholders and society
* a continuing and influential AI community, having an impact in broader society and with its leaders
* more appropriate teaching with excellent support materials (for example videos of real cases contrasting  how appreciative styles can be more effective than unappreciative ones in interviewing, dealing with conflict etc). 
* more appreciative attitudes 
 
I understand that the AI movement in the USA is having a greater impact as each year goes by and has an approach / strategy in respect of these and other key elements. 
 
We all need a bit more oxygen!
 
Kind regards,
 
Brian Guest


 
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