By Nan Macleod

While our politicians argue and fight about what needs to be done about healthcare and the national budget, I am reminded of how easy it is to pick and choose information and facts to build a case and make a point, to attempt to influence people’s thinking, to create enemies to be conquered rather than colleagues to be valued and listened to.

This doesn’t happen only in the political arena. We do this on a daily basis, in all kinds of conversations. We don’t take into account the value of another point of view, sometimes fearful that we won’t “win” a case or an argument.

Why does there have to be only one person or one group who “wins”? Why not continually strive to get all the needs on the table and hammer out solutions so that a greater number of needs are met and a minimum number of people experience a less than ideal outcome?

Let’s remember this when we are planning change in our organizations! How can we ensure that shareholders, officers, leaders, employees, their families, customers and communities are all considered in the decision making process! When everyone has a stake and everyone benefits, there is higher energy, greater buy-in, and better results! A win-win-win!