Monday, July 07, 2008
Is there a lesson to be learned from politics?
John McCain charged Barack Obama with flipflopping for "reneging" on a pledge to use public funds which would limit his spending. Senator Obama countered with a charge that Senator McCain reversed himself on the immigration bill that he co-sponsored with Senator Ted Kennedy. Are these cases of flip-flopping or have the situations changed? What difference does it make?
When we perceive someone as flip-flopping, we make assumptions about them. Some of those assumptions are:
- they lack confidence; they are easily swayed by others
- you can't trust them; their word isn't their bond
- they're lazy; they go with the flow
- they can't make a decision; they vacillate among alternatives
That's not how we'd like to be viewed. Nor would we want to deal with someone who exhibits these traits.
How can we tell when someone is flip-flopping? Look at the situation at the time their original decision was made. Compare it with the situation that exists today. Have things changed? If so, does the new decision make sense in light of these new facts. Remember, it's every bit as dangerous to remain rigid in your beliefs in a changing environment as it is to flip flop when the facts haven't changed.
The fourth step in the 7 Steps to Becoming Invaluable is to suspend judgment. It's counter-intuitive, but to discern whether someone is flip-flopping you must first remind yourself of any biases you have toward the individual. These biases form the basis of judgment. Second, ask yourself "Have the facts have changed?" Finally, ask yourself "If the facts have changed, how would these new facts have influenced my decision if I were in their shoes?"
In today's challenging economy, there are a plethora of issues that we face. If there is one in particular you'd like me to address, send me an email me at dale@furtwengler.com.
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