We live in a fast food world! There’s Taco Bell – “Think outside the bun.” We have McDonalds – “Ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba I’m lovin’ it.” And Subway – “5…5-dollar…5 dollar foot long!” Americans like things fast, we like things easy and we like things like we like our Whopper cheeseburgers, our way.
But, how is that possible? How are 7 billion people with hundreds of different languages, thousands of different religions and vastly different tastes in food suppose to get “their way?”
The answer: by standing up for their favorite entree and being willing to settle for a compromised side.
Keeping on the topic of fast food, one of the hardest decisions our team has to make is the age-old question: where are we going to eat tonight? You see, every night we’re together in Indianapolis, the whole team is bound to one rental soccer-man van. That means we usually have to agree on one place to eat. But, everyone has a little different taste.
Levy can’t stand Taco Bell or Arbys. Randa, Bethany and Chelsea aren’t ready for Japanese or Chinese food after our trip to Japan. Chase could eat at McDonalds every night. And my tastes shift on a daily basis.
Even though I love Arbys, Taco Bell and Asian food and try to avoid McDonald’s most of the time, we try to pick a restaurant that will satisfy everyone’s tastes. Last week, after quite a long debate, the team decided… let’s just order pizza. Was that my first choice? No. Did it sound alright? When doesn’t pizza sound good?!
Teamwork is all about compromise.
Whether it’s a decision as simple as our team’s dinner debate or as complex as what community service project your chapter should do this month, we have to remember that Burger King logic doesn’t rule the world. We have to hold on to our most important entrees, but be willing to compromise on the side dishes.
What in the world does that mean? Leaders have opinions. Leaders are decisive and strong. We know what’s best for everyone else right?
Wrong! The key to leadership is knowing when it’s best to step up and make decisions and when it’s more beneficial to let someone else step up and take the reins.
If you feel strongly about something – your chapter’s yearly theme, what Career Development Event you’d like to compete in, earning your State FFA Degree, the topic for your group’s English project, how your friends should treat each other – then step up! Explain to others your opinion and why you feel the way you do; sometimes people listen to the loudest voice. We can’t compromise on the things we hold nearest to our hearts – morals, values, beliefs, ideals.
On the flip side, if something isn’t very important to you or someone else is more passionate about their stance than you are, realize that compromise isn’t failure. Don’t get me wrong, you shouldn’t “go along” with someone just because they are passionate – how do you think Hitler came into power? Rather, understand that we all have opinions. We all have wants and needs. And we all see situations a little differently. So let your brother pick what your family will eat for dinner. Let your classmate be your Chemistry group leader since they have a knack for science. Trust that your parents are giving you advice that would be in your best interest.
Before making a decision, our team has started asking ourselves, “How important is this to me?” We rank how passionately we feel about something on a scale from one to ten. If we’re at a seven or greater, it’s probably best to speak up. If we’re three or below maybe it’s time to let someone else make the final decision.
It’s true, we live in a fast food world. But, not everyone can “Have it just their way.”
Stand
strong on those things you believe in.
Never sacrifice your beliefs. But remember that compromise plays an important role in teamwork.
