YOUR WAY, MY WAY, THE RIGHT WAY

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

George S. Patton, General US Army WWII

Differences of opinion must ultimately be resolved if there is to be unanimous, or close to it, support for whatever is to be done.

Just not initially.

In the beginning the task is to identify the right way, created from bits and pieces of all possible ways.  

YOU DO AGREE WITH ME DON'T YOU?

"We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion."

François de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French writer.

The trouble with this is our opinions become inbred when they are mostly or only our opinions.

I'M GOING INSANE, BUT WILL BE BACK SHORTLY

"No man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions."

Henry Ward Beecher

19th century American politician

Which makes the point that there are variations of insanity, some quite useful.

Just be sure you know which you are, when.

Business Nirvana

"There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other."

Eric Hoffer

20th century American philosopher and author

In a perfect world . . .

We would always understand what our co-workers say.

There would be few if any misunderstandings.

We would work harmoniously towards a common goal.

. . . in a perfect world.

I'm ok with not living in a perfect world.

I Have Something To Say About That!

"Diplomacy is thinking twice before saying nothing."

Unknown

Advice I would have been better off having followed numerous times in my career.

What about you?

Success From Different Perspectives

"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle."

Walt Whitman

19th century American poet

So you see, more than the sum of the parts can come from opposites.

But you have to look for it.

Do you?

The Art of Misunderstanding

"They have the unique ability to listen to one story and understand another."

Pandora Poikilos

20th/21st century author

Even when we try to understand the views of others, we often don't.

Can you think of anything more important than comprehending what others have to say to you?

And note I said comprehending, which is not necessarily the same as agreeing with or accepting.

Let's Shake On It

"By the time a partnership has dissolved, it has dissolved."

John Updike

20th century American writer

Like marriages, business partnerships are relatively easily to enter with termination consequences that often ends the business as well.

Be careful!

Words Unsaid Sometimes Speak Louder Than Those You Hear

"The silent dog is the first to bite."

Proverb

Those managers who mistake silence for acceptance/agreement are making a big mistake.

The Best Of . . . . ?

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

William Shakespeare

16th century English playwright

Is the test of "true love" the same for business partners?

The Value of Management/Employee Agreement

"Better a friendly refusal than unwilling consent."

Spanish proverb

Management can order employees to do most anything, expecting and getting compliance, at least in the short term.

And employees must often do things they would rather not do.

But does anyone doubt how better the outcome when both are in agreement concerning what will be done?

Now, how to make that happen more often?

Individuals Pulling Together

"The multitude which does not reduce itself to unity is confusion."

Blaise Pascal
17th century French Mathematician

You know what he's saying don't you? In the end, groups must come to consensus of action, if not total agreement concerning how they got there, otherwise confusion results.

And with confusion the probability of contradictory action, even lack of action, increases significantly.

We don't have to see things the same way but we do need to agree regarding what we will do, regardless of our differences.