Beyond "Making it Work"

Say aloud these words to yourself: COOPERATE. COMPROMISE.

What feelings, thoughts, and sensations come up for you when you think about those words/behaviors?

Now say aloud these two words: COLLABORATE. CO-CREATE.

Did this second set of words make you feel any differently?

If you’re like me, the latter set of words felt more empowering and even a bit more exciting than the first. There was something in them that gave a sense of true agency in the outcome as compared to the first set. Do you agree?

It is important to acknowledge that there are certainly many benefits to cooperation and compromise. These are behaviors that we often use - in the workplace, at home, in our friendships. - to move forward from places of stalemate or disagreement and to keep our relationships positive and harmonious. We cooperate with the intention of finding a way forward and “making it work” even when circumstances are not necessarily ideal. This is an important skill, where we use resourcefulness and ability to focus on what we can control in order to meet a goal.

So, “making it work” when working with others can be effective in leading to beneficial outcomes. But what if there was an opportunity to go further in the direction of true collaborative co-creation and enhanced relationships?

If you are spending a great deal of time in a state of compromise, you may often feel as though you are settling for “good enough” or that your energy around your work is decreased because you believe you have less influence on outcomes. If this is the case, below are some tips you can use to help shift to a more empowered and energetic perspective.

To go beyond “making it work”:

Lead with heart! Instead of focusing on the “have-to’s” and “shoulds” of the situation, create a vision for the eventual outcome that you and others can get excited about.

1. Develop this vision with the others involved in the decision/situation. Be sure it is described and captured in such a way that you can connect to it emotionally and that it inspires you.

Reframe your thinking from compromise to service.

• Rather than “What can I concede/lay aside in order to get to my goal?”, ask yourself instead “What do I have to offer to this situation that will be mutually beneficial?”?
• Reflect on how you might identify common goals that could lead you to a win-win situation.

Focus on the long-term benefits of collaboration & co-creation.

• If you are tempted to compromise to meet your own short-term goals, consider what you might gain if you instead turn your attention to finding a way forward that creates a sustainable win for all parties involved.
• Ask yourself: How might a shift to a service-focus improve your relationships and influence with my colleagues? How will it benefit the organization, my team, and even my own career if I am able to make a broader positive impact?

There are certainly times where compromise and cooperation are the right tools for the situation at hand. However, it can be both energizing and impactful to go beyond compromise when we can. The long term impacts on not only our own success but that of others around us and our organizations can be much greater when we seek to co-create new possibilities rather than settle for good enough.

This week, keep an eye out for opportunities to go beyond "making it work". What will you create with others that will make a bold impact?