Hello #qc-community, how are you doing? Trust fine. I welcome you back to my blog. I am happy to participate in this week's prompt and present my write-up to you. I am looking forward to your feedback in the comment section.
Persistence - How important is persistence to you? What's the difference between persistence and stubbornness? Do you think you should always be persistent, or do you think there comes a time when you just have to stop trying?
Source from Pixabay
Persistence is that voice of reasoning that says don’t give up, try more options, give it a second thought, do some research, look at this or that. For me, it is the desire to continue making steady efforts in the face of challenges and not give in to failure quickly.
Sometimes we set goals, start a project, initiate a journey, but face diverse obstacles that may challenge our fate in keeping on with those goals and activities. That is when I find persistence prudent and vital.
During one of my yearly performance evaluation activities, I recommended a salary review for the employees. This is because the process and policy required that salaries be reviewed after a successful annual performance evaluation. It was also a culture that was prevalent in the organisation. However, for no serious reason, it was not approved. You know that period during the winding down of yearly activities where employees are awaiting press releases from the HR departments on employee-revised benefits for the new year and all that.
Unfortunately, the information about the salary review was put on hold. There was serious pressure on my department from both the employees' side and the management side. However, I need to balance this so that I will not be seen as being on the employees' side or the employees see me as being on the management side.
To manage the situation, I was able to strike a balance between the management and the employees. I remained calm while I gently reminded the management of the need to review the salaries. I remained persistent in mentioning it in every little way I could, through gentle whispers and unattended action plans.
I did not give up in the face of the number of no I received from the management. At some point, I was advised by some of the management staff to drop the request. I accepted and put it on hold. After a few weeks, I received an intercom call from the MD who requested I meet him immediately with the old, reviewed salary data and the current request. Then, we were already in the new year. After a few discussions, he expressly gave me the nod to proceed with the review.
Source from Pixabay
At that point, I realised that my persistence gradually slipped into stubbornness and defiance. As a result, it was seen as a power tussle between me and the management. Then, I realised I would have tactically applied a strategic withdrawal.
From that event, I learnt to adhere to the popular saying that “he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day”. Maybe the approval would have come early if I had tactfully withdrawn from my stubborn persistence, rigidity and unnecessary push.
Furthermore, I learned to draw a clear line between persistence and stubbornness, noting that persistence involves flexibility, openness to suggestions, and gently applying tactics of withdrawal, as well as consistent efforts when necessary. It is knowing when to withdraw and try again without being rigid, or closing my eyes to clear signs of defiance, to prevent slipping into stubbornness.
Thank you for reading.
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