choosing your battles counting the cost before going to war a presentation for holzer medical center...
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Choosing Choosing Your Your
BattlesBattlesCounting the Cost Counting the Cost
Before Going to WarBefore Going to War
A Presentation for Holzer A Presentation for Holzer Medical Center LDIMedical Center LDI
Kendall L. Stewart, Kendall L. Stewart, M.D.M.D.
October 22, 2004October 22, 2004
What’s in this for What’s in this for me?me?• In every organization,
there are plenty of opportunities to fight.
• But little good comes from repeatedly losing battles.
• Still, a good many leaders can’t help themselves.
• These leaders– Burn up precious energy,– Burn out early, and– Burn bridges and
surrender the opportunity for gracious retreat.
• Effective leaders choose their battles wisely—and live to fight another day.
• After this presentation, you will be able to– Identify three reasons
why leaders are inclined to fight.
– Describe three consequences of taking on every fight,
– Specify three strategies for choosing your battles wisely.
– Explain why you should use these strategies, and
– Explain how to implement these strategies effectively.
Why do some leaders get into so Why do some leaders get into so
many many organizational fights?organizational fights?
• They feel the need to control everything.
• They can’t stand to lose.• They are convinced that others
are out to get them.• They have learned from poor
role models.• They don’t want to be perceived
as weak.• Everything is personal to them.• They are jealous and resentful.• Winning is all that matters to
them.• And so on.
What are some of the What are some of the
consequencesconsequences of taking on too of taking on too many fights?many fights?
• You will be chronically frustrated.
• Your resentful rumination will sap your energy and decrease your productivity.
• Your will develop a reputation for unreasonableness.
• Leaders will start to avoid you.• People won’t want you on their
team.• You will be seen as a barrier to
progress.• Others will come to resent you.• You will eventually be
marginalized.• You may lose your job.
What are some effective What are some effective strategiesstrategies for for choosing your battles wisely?choosing your battles wisely?
• Consider the alternatives to going to war.
• Consider the worse case scenario.
• Avoid impulsive decisions.• View emotional arousal as a
warning.*• Seek wise counsel.• Look behind you. (Is
anybody there?)• Assess battlefield
conditions.• Make sure it’s not personal. • Be the reluctant warrior.*• Count the costs of losing.
• Count the cost of winning.*• Consider whether you can
survive to fight another day.• Create a pro and con list.• Write down your position.• Encourage opponents to
make their case.• Concede quickly and
gracefully when it is hopeless.
• Seek to understand your opponents’ positions.
• Acknowledge and legitimize feelings.
• If you must fight, win.
View emotional View emotional arousal arousal as a as a flashing red light.flashing red light.• Why should you?
– Encourages you to recognize arousal in yourself and others
– Forces you to ask, “Why?”– Reduces the chance of
impulsive reactions you will later regret
– Minimizes the likelihood of angry retorts and hurt feelings
– Alerts you to feelings you and others have hidden from yourselves
– Calls attention to vulnerability many leaders overlook
– Encourages colleagues to monitor your arousal
• How can you?– Recognize your own
arousal.– Note others’ arousal.– Mention it aloud.– Ask tentative questions
instead of being a snot.– Accept the legitimacy of
arousal.– Arousal is always
defensive.– Recognize that you have
not yet found the best option.
– Doing nothing is the best option when you are aroused.
Be the Be the reluctantreluctant warrior. warrior.
• Why should you?– Demonstrates your
grasp of organizational reality
– Casts others as aggressors
– Requires you to ask and answer the hard questions
– Forces you to act deliberately
– Inclines you to reflect– Demands that you make
a compelling case– Casts you as the
reasonable one
• How can you?– Instead of participating
heated exchanges, observe them.
– Instead of responding, explore options.
– Instead of reacting, reflect.
– Instead of revenge, seek remedy.
– Instead of “who,” ask “why.”
– Instead of personal satisfaction, seek what is best for the enterprise.
Count the Count the costcost of winning. of winning.
• Why should you?– Reminds everyone that the
cost is often unacceptably high
– Forces leaders to consider less costly options
– Demands that leaders consider collateral damage
– Promotes reflection on the persistence of emotional scars
– Recalls the power and initiative of resentment and longing for revenge
– Emphasizes that all organizational wins are only temporary
• How can you?– Make a lists of the
anticipated costs.– Invite your colleagues
to brainstorm with you.– Tell stories of long-held
resentments.– Speculate about how
you can permit the losers to save face.
– Remind you colleagues of the personal cost to them.
– Recall histories of previous, costly wins.
What have you What have you learned?learned?
• Organizational infighting is common, but it is a risky, low-yield change strategy.
• Nonetheless, we indulge in this destructive activity often and with painful, long-lasting results.
• Because of the risks involved, it is critical to choose one’s battles wisely.
• The strategies covered in this presentation will assist leaders in deciding which battle must be fought, and which battles should be avoided.
• Using these strategies will lengthen your career and lessen the stress in your life.
Where can you learn Where can you learn more?more?
• Alison Coomer, Mary Beth Dever and Michelle Kennedy, “Choosing Your Battles: Counting the Cost Before Going to War,” in A Portable Mentor for Organizational Leaders, SOMCPress, 2003
How can you How can you contactcontact me? me?
Kendall L. Stewart, M.D.Kendall L. Stewart, M.D.Medical DirectorMedical Director
Southern Ohio Medical CenterSouthern Ohio Medical CenterPresident & CEOPresident & CEO
The SOMC Medical Care Foundation, The SOMC Medical Care Foundation, Inc.Inc.
1805 27th Street1805 27th StreetPortsmouth, Ohio 45662Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
740.356.8153740.356.8153
[email protected] [email protected]
www.somc.orgwww.KendallLStewartMD.com
Southern Ohio Medical CenterSouthern Ohio Medical Center SafetySafety QualityQuality ServiceService RelationshipsRelationships Performance Performance
WhatWhat questionsquestions remain?remain?
www.somc.orgwww.somc.org