Similarly, I've found one of the most useful questions to pose for each option is "What would need to be true for this to be a good idea?". This is helpful whether you're initially supportive of or opposed to the idea. In either case, you have to be explicit about the conditions/facts you think are necessary for success and why they're either true or false, which tends to lead to a more concrete discussion with more space for agreement and shared understanding. If you're supportive, this makes it easier to acknowledge that those conditions/facts might not necessarily be true. If you're opposed, this makes it easier to appreciate the idea and work on it despite your reservations.
This sounds very related to one of David Marquet's credos from "Turn The Ship Around!". Don't ask "Are we ready?"; instead, ask "How ready are we?". Everything needs to be phrased so as to invite people to express the knowledge they have, rather than demanding what amounts to a declaration of tribal identity.
> Similarly, I've found one of the most useful questions to pose for each option is "What would need to be true for this to be a good idea?".
Thanks for mentioning this. I think, it's the principle of inversion. I can resoundingly echo your comment. Personally, it has proven to be very useful for me to get people out of "tunnel vision".
