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Lose A Battle To Win The War ...
September 28, 2021
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I learned early on that one of the keys to staying employed was learning how to compromise. A big part of it is understanding how to maneuver. Once you’ve mastered the skill, it will increase the possibilities that things will fall your way more often.
Simply Put ...
The concept is easy. Find ways to coexist, redirect, bite the bullet, and work without jeopardizing your employment or bargaining chips. Someone once told me, "Try and let the other guy win sometimes.” The key is to know when to assert yourself and when not to.He Never Knew ...
I once had a general manager who would complain occasionally about music. He was fully briefed on all callout research and perceptual studies. However, he'd still elbow his way into our music selection process. Fortunately, his complaints would come long after a song had become a recurrent. He was the best example of how long it takes the average listener to notice a song. He'd always start asking questions about a song after it had been on air for 8 or 9 weeks.It Never Failed ...
The general manager's pattern was to mention his concerns and then wait for 5 more weeks before circling back with the same concerns. By that time a song was usually ready for a rotation change and fewer spins. I'd explain to him the reasons for the song on our station. Meanwhile, my music director would wonder why he was meddling since we were always doing well in the ratings. Based on my opinion backed up with research, he'd think about the contributions of the song for our station. Then he would suggest for a third time that I remove it from rotation. His pattern would take up to 15 or 16 weeks in total before asking me to take the song off the air. As far as I was concerned, by that time it wasn't a big deal to put one song on hold and let him have his way.The Guilt Factor ...
He was so predictable. I knew based on how he reacted after one of his "I'm the Boss moments," that I could get anything we needed in the programming department. Eventually the music director understood, and he and I'd laugh every time the general manager would make his twice a year stance on some song. I purposely lost the battle to help win the war.Let The Other Person Win Sometimes ...
My point is that office politics matters. It's about picking your battles. My suggestion is that in the future, decide whether an issue is one of those "let them have their way” situations. Especially if it's over something that's not going to affect the big picture. Being right on principle just isn't always worth it. Over time if you apply what I'm suggesting, you'll become more effective and strategic in the workplace. -
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