LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT

                                                                                                                     Collaboration or Compromise
                                                                                    What is the Difference?

       Compromise is over rated even in politics and government work. At best it is a temporary solution and at worst it satisfies no one and risks repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Real leaders and team members work through problems for the greater benefit of everyone putting the mission before their own political or monetary interests. This problem solving effort toward a group goal is called collaboration and when it is accomplished for mutual benefit by the same act at the same time it becomes a transformative process with great potential for long term benefits to individuals, groups and organizations throughout society. However, when political or competitive advantage becomes the main goal, real collaboration is diminished and acts of compromise slowly cause the problem solving process to disintegrate. In Congress today few problems are solved through compromised legislation with irrelevant earmarks and legislative addendums adding insult to injury in a process that primarily benefits special interests.

       However, there have been in recent years a few collaborative efforts by some Congressional Committees and Commissions that have produced valid bipartisan results. The 9/11 Commission during the Bush Administration was a bipartisan group of Congress people who worked hard to collect valid information on the tragic events surrounding the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in September of 2001. This Commission produced many significant recommendations most of which were ignored by the Bush Whitehouse and have since faded into the blurred memories and confused shock of what actually occurred on 9/11 and could have been prevented. Also, recently the Baker Committee, a bipartisan group, was commissioned to make recommendations to the Bush Administration regarding what to do about the deteriorating situation in Iraq after years of the incompetent handling of post war reconstruction there.

       Once again, this group worked hard to collect information and work through the problems associated with the post war insurgency and turmoil in Iraq producing some very valid recommendations for the Bush Whitehouse to consider. And again, most of these recommendations including regional diplomacy and withdrawal of American troops were primarily ignored. It seems that even when we are able to collaborate successfully, politics and self-interest find a way to take priority over valid answers to significant problems. In this case the Bush Administration chose more military action in the form of a “surge” of troop activity in many of the trouble spots of Iraq to save face and produce some immediate results. This limited effort was considered a success, but failed to solve the long term problems in Iraq after years of neglect, incompetence and confusion.

       Nevertheless, both the 9/11 Commission and the Baker Committee have shown what real bipartisan collaboration can accomplish when a group of committed problem solvers work together to find solutions for the greater benefit of everyone. However, it has become essential that we also find ways to make sure that that more of the recommendations of such collaborative commissions are successfully addressed and implemented in government. It is not enough for these groups of collaborative problem solvers to show us what is possible and then allow situations to continue to deteriorate into partisan politics and the selfish purposes of special interests. We must find more collaborative ways to address our problems without the back door compromising and deal making that has taken the country down a dangerous road of political self-interest.

Copyright 2009, Global Leadership Resources: For teaching or classroom use only.

Note: The above article is based on the concepts and examples found in the book, Collaborative Leadership and Global Transformation by Timothy Stagich, Ph.D.

                                                                                 Discussion Questions

1. Why is compromise over rated as a tool for politics and government? What are its advantages and disadvantages?
2. What is collaboration and how is it used in problem solving and politics? What are the benefits of real collaboration and problem solving for democracy?
3. Discuss the differences between collaboration and compromise. Are collaborative results achievable in most groups and organizations? Why or why not?
4. How can we make groups and organizations more collaborative and less compromising? What are the transformative benefits for society?
5. Discuss the collaborative successes of the 9/11 Commission and the Baker Committee. Why were their recommendations for the most part ignored?
6. What can be done to achieve more bi-partisan collaborative efforts in politics and government?
7. How can we make sure that the recommendations of future collaborative efforts by commissions and committees are seriously considered and implemented?