When I first think of the word compromise, it connotes the act of having to separate with something of value, something that I want.
It also means I cannot have everything I want. I must share.
Take First Attitude
I recently received an email from a company we use to provide certification exams. The agent or salesperson from this company wrote the following …
“Dr. Flores, will you please provide a count for exam-takers in February so I can update my revenue projections.”
As you can quickly decipher from this email, the agent cares only about his revenue projections. At no time does he mention the value his organization can provide for us. He wants to update his spreadsheet so he can boast to his peers and boss.
There is no compromise here.
When I teach the Project Management Professional (PMP) course, we discuss the importance of compromising. I mention that the goal is to have a win-win with the other party.
For example, when working with a vendor, we should avoid seeking a rock-bottom price, one where the other company fails to make a fair profit. Instead, we want them to experience success as well.
When we help others excel, they are going to do their part to help us do well.
Good of the Whole
The most successful companies are led by individuals who value their employees. It’s not just lip service.
One leader, for example, mentioned that his company embraces financial transparency. The goal here is to open-up the books so all employees know how the organization is performing.
This topic reminds me of the enormous secrecy surrounding profits in 99.99% of companies.
When the numbers are subpar, we hear about it. “Oh … no raises or bonuses this year … we failed to meet our numbers.”
However, when the company does well, we often fail to hear anything. The leaders will be sure to take their bonuses, but the rest of the regular employees should merely be happy they still have a job.
The good of the whole means leaders are willing to compromise. For the company to perform at its highest levels, the employees must have a vested interest in creating this success.
Many organizations use a forced ranking approach to reward employees. This means workers who are in the top 20% will receive about 80% of the bonus money. The problem with this method is 80% of the employees are largely ignored.
I understand that top performers should be recognized and rewarded. However, shunning 80% of the employees can lead to anger, apathy, and eventually, high turnover rates.
For any company, congregation, or relationship, it’s essential that all individuals practice the willingness to yield. By taking this mindset, compromise means unity and not disagreement.
The beauty of compromise is that it creates a wonderful foundation upon which further discussions and agreements can take place.
Over time, this approach will create resilient trust that will yield even better outcomes in both personal and business relationships.