Compromise Like a BOSS!

"My way or the highway" leadership…so old school, and still deeply ingrained in leadership culture. This form of authoritarian leadership has been encouraged by generations of parents and teachers who offered only a lame, “Because I said so” leadership for children. By now, that “reason to respond to direction” has been reinforced beyond those roots by generations of those children, grown up to be our managers, directors, VPs, CEOs, board members, etc. They continue to offer that same limping leadership to the workforce.?

A leader who listens to input, and who negotiates and compromises, is not a failure, not a weak leader. Rather, she recognizes that multiple, daily needs for Negotiation and Compromise are simply a fact of life.?

A successful leader never ignores a basic fact of life. These three are at work here: 1) people don’t agree, 2) every point of view brings some value, and 3) anyone is more willing to support a solution that includes even a small spark of their perspective.

Compromise is not being a doormat. Leaders who compromise do not lay down their interests and the interests of the organizations they represent, for others to stride across with their individual solutions.

Compromise generates a manageable fire from the passion and energy in a collection of sparks and flickers. The team’s individual flames are breathed into a coherent light, with effective leadership.?

A leader who successfully uses the strategy of compromise has developed two key foundations. First, she speaks up with confidence for her interests and those of the organization, without defensiveness. And she does not fear or resist change. She can hear how a new point of view brings new strength.?

I also reflect on some relevant advice from my real estate agent when I was a young-ish, first-time home buyer. My spouse and I needed to each make a separate list of: 1) Absolute non-negotiables/must-haves, 2) Highly desirable but less-important features or benefits, and 3) “It would be nice” items, as the icing on an already good cake. We did, and shared our lists with each other before reviewing properties.

What a beautiful lens on compromise! If only each of us, when entering any process of group input toward a decision, plan, or assessment of progress, could be clear about those three levels of personal and professional interests. How would the world be transformed by such self-awareness??

Often, in organizations, leaders are guided by an adopted Statement of Values–part of the strategic plan, along with Vision and Mission statements. A successful leader also speaks from the perspective of her own values: kindness, clarity, whole-hearted connection, mutual respect…

Within this framework of values, and with clarity about what is most important and what is “nice to have,” the safety to speak one’s point of view generates a powerful playground for innovation, growth, and productivity toward shared goals.?

Yep…that’s "all" it takes to compromise like a BOSS!