Is It Even Worth Trying to Persuade A "Decider"? Kathleen Reardon

[Demeter]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-reardon/is-it-even-worth-trying-t_b_47436.html


It isn't easy. The most obdurate of this type are used to one-way coercion and manipulation. They understand power - short and simple. They're the extreme of the "Commanding" type in the Leadership Style Inventory. There are four basic types and combinations of those: Commanding, Logical, Inspirational, and Supportive. I've used the LSI inventory with numerous companies and governmental agencies.

One of the companies, doing exceptionally well now, asked me to help alter their entire culture characterized at the time by Commanders with a secondary preference for Logical. Inspirationals and Supportives were severely lacking. Ideas weren't shared. It was "My way or the highway," for sure. Employees weren't motivated. The competition was eating them alive. Not anymore.

Leadership style can be stretched, even changed. Some leaders, these often in name only, are entrenched - they can't budge. Commanders are great if the job is to roll out an already agreed-upon strategy, or to get something done immediately. But they're the wrong leader type for crafting creative alternatives (Inspirationals). And don't call on them to encourage and support the team. Logical leaders are suited to situations requiring thorough understanding of what has come before, the conditions now and the likely future. They are avid data collectors not easily rushed to judgment. As such, they aggravate those who command and literally drive extreme "deciders" up a wall. They're too distant for Supportives, who care about how people feel doing a job, and they consider Inspirational leaders out of touch with reality.

So, what we have in the White House is a "leader" in the wrong place for these times (a generous evaluation, I know, but we're focusing on one problem here). This wouldn't be so bad if he were able to stretch his style or work with people unlike himself. But he doesn't do that. Leaders like this hire a cushion of obsequious yes-men/women to surround a small trusted inner circle. "Deciders" rarely learn from mistakes, refusing to believe they make them. Key information is hoarded, disinformation freely disseminated.

So, can George W. Bush be persuaded to sign a bill with benchmarks for ending American involvement in the Iraq civil war? Not using conventional persuasion strategy. He needs a power way out - to appear right. The current face-off is fine. It unsettles him. But before he panics and crawls into a hole, it's up to the Democrats and beleaguered Republicans to find him a way to be right without sacrificing their own credibility. That's astute negotiation.

"Impeach, "some of you will shout. "Impeach or nothing. What's wrong with you, Kathleen? I'm not reading your blogs anymore!" But this is strategy for today - for this Democratic choice point. Besides, there are over 150,000 troops and more to come whose lives depend on us comprehending how this man thinks of himself as a "leader." We've got to meet him where he lives.

He looks bad. His ratings in the polls are in the pits. He won't come out a hero - no worries there. But throw him a rope - frayed, but adequate, and bring us closer to the soldiers coming home. And if some senator or representative reads this and scratches his/her head in search of a specific strategy, let me know. The stakes are just too high not to try what has worked so many times before.

http://journals.aol.com/docreardon/TheSkilledNegotiator/ takes you to expansion on this thesis...


FRANKLY, THE ONLY ROPE I WANT TO THROW BUSH AND CO. HAS A NOOSE AT THE END OF IT.....BUT I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO REASONABLE REASON!

[DawnIsis]

1. This article is IMO wrong and is missing the big picture

Bush is not looking for a graceful exit. He is a neoconservative, they all are, and they have a philosophy & plan they are not gonna abandon. Impeachment is the only way to stop them.