Stubborn Refusal
by Vic Wiens
You will likely have noticed that our articles often touch on various facets of conscience as it applies to leadership and influence in businesses and non-profit organizations. Today's focus on "stubborn refusal" fits that theme.
The term "stubborn refusal" is generally used negatively. For example, it is used when someone refuses to acknowledge blatantly obvious facts. But the same expression is also used very effectively to describe the refusal to give into peer pressure which encourages you to engage in unethical or unwise behaviour.
Stephen Covey makes the following observation about healthy "stubborn refusal" in his book The 8th Habit,
"There is a really interesting approach to no-deal that is promulgated by the armed services. It's called the doctrine of stubborn refusal. I learned the doctrine of stubborn refusal from interacting with navel officers. It means that when yhou know something is wrong and that it would result in serious consequensces to the overall mission and values of the organization, then you should respectfully push back, no matter what your position or rank. You should speak up and declare yourself in opposition to the momentum of a growing decision that you are absolutely convinced is dead wrong. That's essentially living from your conscience - allowing your inner voice or light to guide your actions rather than giving in to the sway of peer pressure." (p. 259)
I especially appreciate the observation Covey makes as to how this principle relates to leadership,
"It is important for people in high positions to officially endorse the doctrine of stubborn refusal. This legitimizes the right to push back, to call wrong wrong and to call stupid stupid." (p. 259)
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