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The Compromise Trap

Stay true to yourself and be a positive force at work.

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CompromiseTrap-Effective Apology Books

Last month I had the good fortune to partner on a joint talk with John Kador, author of Effective Apology, to explore how compromise and apology might be linked.

What I learned is that the ability to apologize when an apology is due is a healthy compromise. It means giving up the need to be right, to reinforce some fantasy image of who we are, because we value our relationships more than our egos. It requires owning up to our blind spots, weaknesses, and bad habits, but brings us back in touch with reality and frees us from the compromise trap.

Decision-point Tools

Practical how-tos and simple frameworks to help you bring your mission into day to day action.

Click on the icon to the left of each item to open a .pdf file with the tool and instructions on how to use it. Right-click over the icon and choose "Save Link As..." to download a file.

	Decision-Point Tools from The Compromise Trap Six tools to help you sort out healthy and unhealthy compromise under pressure, including Activating Your Strengths in the Moment, Questioning the Deal, Finding Your Worthy Enough Win, Tapping Your Allies in a Crisis, Which Positive Play?, and a Mini After-action Review.
	Employee Engagement Opportunity Scan An overview of WorkLore's new process for identifying where compromise may be inadvertently undermining engagement AND results.
	Loyalties Worksheet Uncover the loyalties that may lead you to balk at change.... so you can honor them and use them to contribute.
	Six Personal Foundations Six practical ways to build the courage, perspective, and skills you need to stay true to yourself and contribute to your organization's effectiveness and integrity.
	Should I Stay or Should I Go? Five simple questions to help you determine whether your current setting will allow you to meet your goals and thrive.
	Ten Misconceptions about Compromise A quick refresher to help you stay truer to yourself, understand others’ behavior and help keep your organization on track.
	Five Positive Plays A quick reminder of the five constructive actions you can take in any situation, even in the face of unhealthy pressure to compromise.
	Storyline Worksheet Craft persuasive arguments and invite candid conversation with employees, peers, and executives (Inspired by Barbara Minto, The Minto Pyramid Principle)
	Map Your Critical Path to a Goal A simplified approach for identifying what to do "Monday morning" to move along the shortest path to your goal. (Based on the work of Barbara Sher, "Wishcraft")
	Three Ingredients for Team Synergy Critical elements in achieving team synergy, where the team’s performance is greater than the sum of the individual parts.
	Seven Uses of Story in Organizations The seven primary applications of story in organizations, based on current practice.
	"Grand Narrative" Worksheet Analyze how the foundational assumptions are changing in your field, and craft your leadership story to help mobilize energy for change.

Resources

The Compromise Trap