my articles | learn more about DirectoryM articles | contact us | advertise with us   
 
SEARCH:
Quick Search Results

Searching...

ABOUT US | VIEW ALL FEATURED ARTICLES | VIEW ALL TOPICS | VIEW ALL REGIONS | DM MOBILE | DM BLOG

Art of Compromise Illinois

The secret to business success.

Local Companies

Corporate Learning Institute
630-971-5075
1195 Summerhill Drive
Lisle, IL
Orbitz for Business
312-894-5187
200 S. Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL
Stark & Associates Inc.
800-438-8994
801 W. Bailey Rd.
Naperville, IL
Rogers Group
847-432-4228
3535 patten rd apt 4d
highland park, IL
The Avantes Group
312-952-2575
6619 South Paulina
Chicago, IL
A-H Consulting, Inc.
(309) 691-4492
P.O. Box 3856
Peoria, IL
Corporate Dynamics Inc.
630-778-9991
1560 Wall St.
Naperville, IL
Interactive Xperts, Inc.
888-997-3787
9029 S. Houston Ave.
Chicago, IL
Labrynth, Inc.
847-732-7673
1147 W. Chicago St., Suite 306
Chicago, IL
Administaff
847-233-3723
9450 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Rosemont, IL


Art of Compromise

News coming from Washington these days reflects the discord of politicians arguing over issues from judicial nominations to Social Security. Civility and collaboration among political adversaries greased the wheels of the American political process for much of the 20th century. No longer! Given the polarity of the American electorate, compromise has come to be equated with selling out. Comity between adversaries has gone by the wayside.

By contrast, business demonstrates in many ways how to prosper through compromise. In a free market society, conceiving, developing and delivering a product or service is filled with hundreds of compromises that balance the needs of the consumer to obtain value with the needs of the producer to make a profit.

Creating Unity
Compromise is not a betrayal of values. It is an agreement over a position where both sides come away with something to their liking. Not every compromise is a good one. General Motors' compromise with its unions over health and pensions in the late 1990s has resulted in legacy costs today approaching $2,500 per vehicle, which the company can ill afford to absorb. On the other hand, compromise between oil producers and the environmentalists has resulted in the implementation of drilling methods that are more ecologically compatible, in addition to the creation and preservation of natural habitats.
Compromise ensures the common interest, and so is a valuable practice for managers to learn and implement. Why? Because compromise is a means by which the talent and skills of a diverse team can be harnessed for the completion of a project. Compromise ensures that people participate and their collaboration overcomes not only inertia but also resistance. Here are some ways to encourage compromise.

  • Insist on collaboration. Reflect for a moment on your most positive team experience. It may be something that occurred in high school athletics or you may be experiencing it right now in your workplace. If you consider why the team succeeded, it is due not simply to the individual proficiencies of teammates, but it was everyone’s ability to meld together, not always as friends, but as collaborators who respect one another’s talents and abilities. That’s teamwork. In a larger picture, it is the collaboration of individuals for the greater good, e.g., producing intended results in the form of winning games or winning in the marketplace. How can managers insist on collaboration? The first way is through example. Make it known that you are willing to share the hardships, be it longer hours or more difficult assignments. A second way is through open and honest communications. Set clear expectations and be available to listen and learn from others on the team.


  • Leverage dissent. The job of employees is not to agree with the boss 100 percent of the time. Employees should feel free to offer alternate points of view about how the work is done, or about the intended results. At the same time, the managers have a right to expect that the work will be done on time and on budget. Managers may also insist on adherence to standards of quality and practice and exact discipline when those metrics are not met. But within that framework there is room for dissent. Creative tension over ideas provokes good thinking and rigorous analysis. The development of marketing campaigns resembles a laboratory for collaborative thinking. Product offering and research are combined with lots of clever minds to develop strategies and creative that make the offering desirable, accessible and available to the consumer, be it a company or an individual. Managers can encourage dissent through the process of appreciative inquiry – that is, the asking of questions designed to elicit different ideas as well as affirm rights of people who want to ask questions.

  • Seek comity. One of the reasons people shy away from compromise is that they feel it is not worth jeopardizing team harmony. True to a degree, perhaps, but team unity is threatened more seriously by failure to compromise. When individuals on a team are competing among themselves to deliver on a project, it is psychologically wearing. As mentioned above, creative tension can be a positive, but emotional tension erodes comity and provokes disagreements and disputes that are directed at personalities rather than projects. It therefore falls to the manager to assuage egos and soothe over hard feelings. Compromises where parties share in the process as well as share in the rewards will make the workplace more harmonious. Sometimes gratification will be deferred. Surrender on one point may not deliver a personal gain, but it will demonstrate that the individual has the strength of character to be a good team player. Such recognition may be the most valuable outcome of compromise.

    Comprise as a Sign of Strength
    As valued as compromise may be to organizational health, there are two instances, at least, where compromise can be damaging. The first instance is ethics. When you compromise over hiring someone with a questionable background, or look the other way over a suspect invoice or inflated expense report, you eat away at the integrity of the organization. Just as one bad apple will spoil the barrel, one bad actor can damage the reputation of an organization and do it irreparable harm. A second instance is values, which are defined as the truths and beliefs that bind people to an organization. When athletes dope themselves to enhance performance, values are thrown by the wayside because dopers violate the spirit of their sport as well as the sanctity of competition. They un level the playing field to the detriment of fellow athletes, spectators and themselves. Everyone loses.

    Compromise is considered an art because it does not result from a process diagram or an employee handbook. Genuine compromise emerges from looking to the hearts and minds of your people to find best possible solutions. Ideally, compromise creates win win situations, but not always. Very often the one who compromises the most is the one who has the most to lose. For example, a project manager who is willing step back from the team and allow others to add their ideas, as well as their labor, to make the project come along may sacrifice her own pet ideas for the good of the whole. That is compromise of the highest order. And it is also known by another name – leadership.

    John Baldoni is a leadership communications consultant who works with Fortune 500 companies as well as non-profits including the University of Michigan. He is a frequent keynote and workshop speaker as well as the author of six books on leadership; the latest is How Great Leaders Get Great Results (McGraw-Hill). Readers are welcome to visit his leadership resource website at www.johnbaldoni.com.

    • Featured Local Company

    Corporate Dynamics Inc.

    630-778-9991
    1560 Wall St.
    Naperville, IL
    www.corpdyn.com

    Corporate Dynamics Inc. is the wireless industry's leading training and consulting organization specializing in helping our clients boost sales, enhance sales management effectiveness and increase service performance. CDI partners with wireless carriers' and manufacturers' direct and indirect sales channels to increase activations and accessory sales, differentiate from the competition, and boost overall profitability.

    Read more about Art of Compromise

    Regional Articles
    - Art of Compromise Addison IL
    - Art of Compromise Algonquin IL
    - Art of Compromise Alsip IL
    - Art of Compromise Alton IL
    - Art of Compromise Antioch IL
    - Art of Compromise Arlington Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Aurora IL
    - Art of Compromise Barrington IL
    - Art of Compromise Bartlett IL
    - Art of Compromise Batavia IL
    - Art of Compromise Belleville IL
    - Art of Compromise Bellwood IL
    - Art of Compromise Belvidere IL
    - Art of Compromise Bensenville IL
    - Art of Compromise Benton IL
    - Art of Compromise Berwyn IL
    - Art of Compromise Bethalto IL
    - Art of Compromise Bloomingdale IL
    - Art of Compromise Bloomington IL
    - Art of Compromise Blue Island IL
    - Art of Compromise Bolingbrook IL
    - Art of Compromise Bourbonnais IL
    - Art of Compromise Bradley IL
    - Art of Compromise Bridgeview IL
    - Art of Compromise Brookfield IL
    - Art of Compromise Buffalo Grove IL
    - Art of Compromise Burbank IL
    - Art of Compromise Calumet City IL
    - Art of Compromise Canton IL
    - Art of Compromise Carbondale IL
    - Art of Compromise Carol Stream IL
    - Art of Compromise Carpentersville IL
    - Art of Compromise Cary IL
    - Art of Compromise Centralia IL
    - Art of Compromise Champaign IL
    - Art of Compromise Charleston IL
    - Art of Compromise Chicago Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Chicago IL
    - Art of Compromise Chicago Ridge IL
    - Art of Compromise Chillicothe IL
    - Art of Compromise Cicero IL
    - Art of Compromise Clarendon Hills IL
    - Art of Compromise Clinton IL
    - Art of Compromise Collinsville IL
    - Art of Compromise Columbia IL
    - Art of Compromise Country Club Hills IL
    - Art of Compromise Crete IL
    - Art of Compromise Crystal Lake IL
    - Art of Compromise Danville IL
    - Art of Compromise Darien IL
    - Art of Compromise Decatur IL
    - Art of Compromise Deerfield IL
    - Art of Compromise Dekalb IL
    - Art of Compromise Des Plaines IL
    - Art of Compromise Dixon IL
    - Art of Compromise Dolton IL
    - Art of Compromise Downers Grove IL
    - Art of Compromise Dundee IL
    - Art of Compromise East Alton IL
    - Art of Compromise East Moline IL
    - Art of Compromise East Peoria IL
    - Art of Compromise East Saint Louis IL
    - Art of Compromise Edwardsville IL
    - Art of Compromise Effingham IL
    - Art of Compromise Elgin IL
    - Art of Compromise Elk Grove Village IL
    - Art of Compromise Elmhurst IL
    - Art of Compromise Elmwood Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Evanston IL
    - Art of Compromise Evergreen Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Fairview Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Forest Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Frankfort IL
    - Art of Compromise Franklin Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Freeport IL
    - Art of Compromise Galesburg IL
    - Art of Compromise Geneseo IL
    - Art of Compromise Geneva IL
    - Art of Compromise Glen Carbon IL
    - Art of Compromise Glen Ellyn IL
    - Art of Compromise Glendale Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Glenview IL
    - Art of Compromise Godfrey IL
    - Art of Compromise Granite City IL
    - Art of Compromise Grayslake IL
    - Art of Compromise Great Lakes IL
    - Art of Compromise Greenville IL
    - Art of Compromise Gurnee IL
    - Art of Compromise Harrisburg IL
    - Art of Compromise Harvard IL
    - Art of Compromise Harvey IL
    - Art of Compromise Harwood Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Hazel Crest IL
    - Art of Compromise Herrin IL
    - Art of Compromise Hickory Hills IL
    - Art of Compromise Highland IL
    - Art of Compromise Highland Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Hinsdale IL
    - Art of Compromise Homewood IL
    - Art of Compromise Itasca IL
    - Art of Compromise Jacksonville IL
    - Art of Compromise Jerseyville IL
    - Art of Compromise Joliet IL
    - Art of Compromise Justice IL
    - Art of Compromise Kankakee IL
    - Art of Compromise Kewanee IL
    - Art of Compromise La Grange IL
    - Art of Compromise La Grange Park IL
    - Art of Compromise La Salle IL
    - Art of Compromise Lake Bluff IL
    - Art of Compromise Lake Forest IL
    - Art of Compromise Lake Villa IL
    - Art of Compromise Lake Zurich IL
    - Art of Compromise Lansing IL
    - Art of Compromise Lemont IL
    - Art of Compromise Libertyville IL
    - Art of Compromise Lincoln IL
    - Art of Compromise Lincolnwood IL
    - Art of Compromise Lisle IL
    - Art of Compromise Lockport IL
    - Art of Compromise Lombard IL
    - Art of Compromise Loves Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Lyons IL
    - Art of Compromise Machesney Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Macomb IL
    - Art of Compromise Mahomet IL
    - Art of Compromise Marengo IL
    - Art of Compromise Marion IL
    - Art of Compromise Matteson IL
    - Art of Compromise Mattoon IL
    - Art of Compromise Maywood IL
    - Art of Compromise Mchenry IL
    - Art of Compromise Melrose Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Metamora IL
    - Art of Compromise Metropolis IL
    - Art of Compromise Midlothian IL
    - Art of Compromise Milan IL
    - Art of Compromise Mokena IL
    - Art of Compromise Moline IL
    - Art of Compromise Monmouth IL
    - Art of Compromise Montgomery IL
    - Art of Compromise Morris IL
    - Art of Compromise Morton Grove IL
    - Art of Compromise Morton IL
    - Art of Compromise Mount Carmel IL
    - Art of Compromise Mount Prospect IL
    - Art of Compromise Mount Vernon IL
    - Art of Compromise Mundelein IL
    - Art of Compromise Murphysboro IL
    - Art of Compromise Naperville IL
    - Art of Compromise New Lenox IL
    - Art of Compromise Niles IL
    - Art of Compromise Normal IL
    - Art of Compromise North Aurora IL
    - Art of Compromise North Chicago IL
    - Art of Compromise Northbrook IL
    - Art of Compromise O Fallon IL
    - Art of Compromise Oak Brook IL
    - Art of Compromise Oak Forest IL
    - Art of Compromise Oak Lawn IL
    - Art of Compromise Oak Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Olney IL
    - Art of Compromise Orland Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Oswego IL
    - Art of Compromise Ottawa IL
    - Art of Compromise Palatine IL
    - Art of Compromise Palos Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Palos Hills IL
    - Art of Compromise Paris IL
    - Art of Compromise Park Forest IL
    - Art of Compromise Park Ridge IL
    - Art of Compromise Pekin IL
    - Art of Compromise Peoria IL
    - Art of Compromise Peru IL
    - Art of Compromise Plainfield IL
    - Art of Compromise Pontiac IL
    - Art of Compromise Princeton IL
    - Art of Compromise Prospect Heights IL
    - Art of Compromise Quincy IL
    - Art of Compromise Rantoul IL
    - Art of Compromise Richton Park IL
    - Art of Compromise River Forest IL
    - Art of Compromise River Grove IL
    - Art of Compromise Riverdale IL
    - Art of Compromise Riverside IL
    - Art of Compromise Robinson IL
    - Art of Compromise Rochelle IL
    - Art of Compromise Rock Falls IL
    - Art of Compromise Rock Island IL
    - Art of Compromise Rockford IL
    - Art of Compromise Rolling Meadows IL
    - Art of Compromise Romeoville IL
    - Art of Compromise Roscoe IL
    - Art of Compromise Roselle IL
    - Art of Compromise Round Lake IL
    - Art of Compromise Saint Charles IL
    - Art of Compromise Salem IL
    - Art of Compromise Sandwich IL
    - Art of Compromise Schaumburg IL
    - Art of Compromise Schiller Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Skokie IL
    - Art of Compromise South Elgin IL
    - Art of Compromise South Holland IL
    - Art of Compromise Springfield IL
    - Art of Compromise Sterling IL
    - Art of Compromise Streamwood IL
    - Art of Compromise Streator IL
    - Art of Compromise Summit Argo IL
    - Art of Compromise Sycamore IL
    - Art of Compromise Taylorville IL
    - Art of Compromise Tinley Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Troy IL
    - Art of Compromise Urbana IL
    - Art of Compromise Vandalia IL
    - Art of Compromise Vernon Hills IL
    - Art of Compromise Villa Park IL
    - Art of Compromise Warrenville IL
    - Art of Compromise Washington IL
    - Art of Compromise Waterloo IL
    - Art of Compromise Wauconda IL
    - Art of Compromise Waukegan IL
    - Art of Compromise West Chicago IL
    - Art of Compromise West Frankfort IL
    - Art of Compromise Westchester IL
    - Art of Compromise Western Springs IL
    - Art of Compromise Westmont IL
    - Art of Compromise Wheaton IL
    - Art of Compromise Wheeling IL
    - Art of Compromise Wilmette IL
    - Art of Compromise Wilmington IL
    - Art of Compromise Winfield IL
    - Art of Compromise Winnetka IL
    - Art of Compromise Wonder Lake IL
    - Art of Compromise Wood Dale IL
    - Art of Compromise Wood River IL
    - Art of Compromise Woodridge IL
    - Art of Compromise Woodstock IL
    - Art of Compromise Worth IL
    - Art of Compromise Yorkville IL
    - Art of Compromise Zion IL
    Related Local Events
    The Motivation Show
    Dates: 9/23/2008 - 9/25/2008
    Location: McCormick Place Complex
    Chicago IL
    View Details
    The NACS Show 2008 - National Assn of Convenience Stores
    Dates: 10/4/2008 - 10/7/2008
    Location: McCormick Place Complex
    Chicago IL
    View Details
    NACS Expo
    Dates: 10/4/2008 - 10/7/2008
    Location: McCormick Place
    Chicago IL
    View Details
    Club Industry National 2008
    Dates: 10/15/2008 - 10/18/2008
    Location: McCormick Place Complex
    Chicago IL
    View Details
    Human Resource - HR Technology Conference and Exposition
    Dates: 10/15/2008 - 10/17/2008
    Location: McCormick Place Complex
    Chicago IL
    View Details
    Rate Article
         
    Articles Insider
    Rss   Delicious   Digg   Add To My Yahoo   Add To My Google   Bookmark   Search Plugin
    Topics:
    Advertising Educational Content Home Appliances Real Estate Resources
    Business Services Entertainment Home Electronics Software
    Career Family Home Services Technology
    Cars Fashion Internet Telecommunications
    Chamber of Commerce Financial Services Legal Trade Shows
    Computer Hardware Franchise Miscellaneous Travel
    Construction Health Nightlife Weddings
    Education Holidays Online Database World History
    Articles.DirectoryM.com | Search | About Us | Contact Us | Mobile | Blog | En Español
    Copyright © Interaction Media Group. All rights reserved.