!Name
Lightning Conductor
!Context
Group of people working collaboratively on a project or problem, especially if they are from diverse backgrounds or interest groups.
!Problem
Discussions become emotionally-charged, often in a negative way. Some people may deliberately act in ways that impede or disrupt the group effort. The HiddenAgenda [AntiPatterns "antipattern" ] may be apparent.
!Forces
* Perceived historical slights
* Vested interests
* Unwillingness to negotiate over desired local outcomes in interest of better overall result
* Lack of training / experience with collaborative working
* Malicious intent from some
!Solution
One or members of the group adopt the role of Lightning Conductor - allowing themselves to be seen as representative of the overall effort, allowing themselves to be made a target for emotional attacks and choosing their responses carefully to avoid escalation.
!Resulting Context
The negative emotional energy of the colalboration is discharged and diffused, allowing work to proceed more effectively. Many participants find it possible to work constructively together once they have expressed their negative feelings or concerns. Others, who perhaps had malicious intent, will become frustrated at the lack of a matching emotional response and drift away in search of more responsive prey.
!Footnote

This pattern was inspired by the Lightning Conductor metaphor [http://intertwingly.net/slides/2004/etcon/37.html|used] by [http://www.intertwingly.net/|Sam Ruby] in his [http://intertwingly.net/slides/2004/etcon/|description] of wiki-based collaboration in evolving the Atom syndication format

CategoryPatterns
CategoryCollaboration
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