Does the employee get blackballed, demoted, or, even, fired?
Does the donor get ignored?
Does the colleague get chastised?
Or, is the response a simple, authentic, “why are you thinking that way?” Or, “Tell me more about your perspective?” Or, “Can you help me understand your response?”
The best leaders, the best advancement officers, the best colleagues appreciate a challenging perspective. Because the point is rarely (if ever) to be viewed as right. The point is to get to the best idea and outcome.
And when a contrasting viewpoint can be better understood, a viable path forward can become more clear.
We chip away at our ability to grow, be better, and get better outcomes for our mission and those we serve when we allow our ego to shut down the conversation before it has a chance to get started.
