Go Along with the No

September 14, 2010

From:  Baldoni, J. (2010).  Lead your boss: the subtle art of managing up.  New York:  AMACOM

Organizations are made stronger by people lobbying for what they believe in.  We need managers with backbone to stand up for what they believe, otherwise they are simply ticket punchers, or yes people who prefer to roll with the tide.  Some managers simply say no the first time to every proposal that comes their way, not because they are negative or contrary, but because they want to test the mettle of the person proposing the idea.  They, like General Eisenhower, understand that "it's not the size of the dog that matters, but rather the size of the fight in the dog "  If you want it, fight for it, and in the process show us what you and your idea or project can do for the organization.

Few of us will get many points for giving up.  "Defeating those negative instincts that are out to defeat us is the difference between winning and losing," said Olympic athlete and civil rights pioneer, Jesse Owens.  "And we face that battle every day of our lives." Perseverance and persistence for the right issue and the right cause is a matter of leadership (Baldoni, p. 165).

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