TGIF – Compromise Is Good Except When It Isn’t

As the week winds down, we wind down with some tidbits for your information, education, health, and enjoyment.

Quote of the Week: “Compromise: An agreement between two men to do what both agree is wrong.” Lord Edward Cecil

Humor Break:

Bev: They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable.  What do you think?
Al: How about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?

Stat of the Week: Harvard Business Review presents the 3 “Don’ts” of persuasion: “Persuading people to believe in your idea is a critical leadership skill. But too many managers don’t know how.”  (1) Don’t make the hard sell. (2) Don’t resist compromise, and (3) Don’t assume it’s a one-shot deal.

Action Tip: My own advice is that the next time you have to reach agreement with someone, be it work related or personal, get clarity in your own mind about two important but different ideas.  First, distinguish between what is negotiable and what are fundamental principles.  Principles cannot be compromised.  Second, get really clear between what you want and what you need.  What you want can always be negotiated.

Volunteering: Since it is March, how about supporting the March of Dimes’ March for Babies ?

Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley (mostly) retired after 35 years in organizational consulting, training and management development. During those years he worked internally with seven organizations and trained and consulted externally with more than 90 large and small businesses, government agencies, hospitals and schools.