Compromise means listening
by Miki SaxonJim Stroup over at Managing Leadership wrote a fascinating post on the effects of principles and political compromise on our Constitution.
For the political slant click the link, but I think that these ideas are just as true in the business world.
“If you rule out compromising your principles, then you become an ideologue.”
Can business people be ideologues? Of course.
Managers adopt approaches and then rigidly try to implement (inflict?) them on every organization in which they work with no consideration as to their appropriateness.
Robert Nardelli did that when he tried to impose stringent metrics a la GE on Home Depot, ignoring cultural differences and the realities of running a successful consumer business.
“…maybe they see a higher, joint goal of sufficient value… This sometimes takes a kind of discipline, stamina, and focus that can be stunning, and much more productive, powerful, and enduring…”
When senior managers open themselves up to input from all levels of their organization—instead of forcing the dogmatic use a certain methodology—the results include stronger engagement, higher productivity and more innovation.
In business, this means a focus beyond today’s stock price—a focus on the long-term, which is rarely appreciated by Wall Street.
Compromise isn’t synonymous with ethical lapse, either; it’s not an excuse to lie, cheat, steal or fudge the information or the numbers.
It is about listening to others; listening to those whose ideas are revolutionary; ideas that are atypical; ideas that buck the norm and go in a new direction and that takes a lot of guts.
In business, as in politics, compromise often means being willing to put your job on the line—but refusing carries the same potential cost.
Image credit: sxc.hu
Your comments-priceless
Don’t miss a post! Subscribe via RSS or EMAIL
Subscribe to MAPping Company Success 