The Shameless art of Compromising

Well, to be honest, you can approach life in only two ways:

“We’ll not compromise.”

“We’ll compromise whenever we can or have to.”

This stance of “We’ll not compromise” reflects the belief in the purpose itself. It’s a statement of moral authority. It’s the statement that message is more important than the messenger. It’s an assertion of consistency, clarity and courage. This stance respects the process.

The stance of “We’ll compromise whenever we can or have to” is mean, power hungry and deceiving. It degrades the system further, because everyone compromises and doesn’t feel bad about it. Worst is that when leaders do it and simultaneously find followers to defend it.

People / leaders with the stance of “Compromise if we can or have to” will brag and cry about what’s wrong. This allows them to normalize and legitimize their compromises. They thrive at bashing past and painting a picture of glorified future — while simply rationalizing compromise in present.

Leaders with the stance, “We’ll not compromise” understand that compromise destroys the very purpose they set out to do. It’s like you aim to end school bullying by partnering with those who bully the best and encouraging them to continue bullying those who bully others so somehow bullying ends. It’s tragic.

In a world where compromise is treated as strategy, the winner or the leader is the person who had the audacity to compromise the most. Leaders with clarity understand that compromise is for power-hungry, self-focused, delusional and self-righteous frauds.

And this is now a norm in our society at large. In every community, team, organization and country, there are people who believe that the only chance they’ve got is to compromise. They simultaneously believe that when they compromise, it’s righteous and that they are the only hope. This leads to compromise for promotion, compromise for profit, compromise for approval, compromise for electable, compromise for power.

Great organizations and societies emerge only when people in the organization or society insist that the compromise must stop. But this is not for everyone. This is for those with guts. This is for those who are willing to be vulnerable. This is for those who are willing to lose one more time. This is for those who believe in kindness. This is for those who have courage. This is for those who believe in the purpose. This is for those who believe in the message, not the messenger.

And for those, still finding space to legitimize compromise, please do so. Go ahead. Do it shamelessly. Don’t cover it up with religion. Don’t cover it up by pretending that you are doing it for others. At least, bring excellence in compromising. Do it with shamelessness.