Walls or Windmills: Conflict Among Leadership
“When the wind of change blows, some build walls, while others build windmills.” – Chinese Proverb
A few months ago I heard someone say the only thing we can control are our own choices and perceptions. At first, I rejected the idea. Too narrow. Too simple.
But as I think more about it - what defines the experience one has during their lifetime more than their choices and perceptions?
Think about it. How often do you find yourself thinking “Why would they do that?” What were they thinking?”
If you have kids, live with another human, or drive on the freeway, you probably think those multiple times per day.
Or even worse – if you co-own a business, you probably think those things multiple times per hour. We often see clashes in leadership priorities, some common conflicts we see are:
- “Why are we spending money on X?”
- “Why did you tell Employee A to do XYZ?”
- “Why do you think we should spend money when we should be saving?”
And, when you ask your business partner those questions, how often does it turn into an argument where they get defensive? Probably always.
It’s because you are only talking about the tip of the iceberg – their choices and perceptions. There’s a mass beneath the surface – the desires and fears that drive peoples’ choices and perceptions.
Imagine if you knew exactly what your business partner wanted. Imagine you knew exactly what they were afraid of.
How much easier would it be to:
- Understand their choices and their perceptions?
- Predict (and influence) how they will respond to situations?
- Navigate change and adversity by having real, meaningful conversations?
We built our Personal Drivers Assessment to do just that – identify the desires and fears that drive peoples’ decisions and actions. It gives business partners a structure and common language to have meaningful conversations about where to take the business. Understanding Personal Drivers gives you the framework to resolve these conflicts and turn an argument into a productive conversation for your business.
The benefit of being aware of your own thoughts, as well as understanding of others, is a key factor in a mutually beneficial business partnership.
Do you want to build windmills, while your business partner wants to build walls? Call us. We can help.
