We live in a culture where compromise seems impossible.  A meeting of the minds may consist of agreeing that the other party is wrong and the situation is hopeless.  We sure can’t look to our political leaders, the ultimate deal-makers, because the chasms are too great.

How did we get to this point?  Can this trend be reversed?  Can’t we all just get along?

According to Stephen Covey, one of the brightest business brains I know, the outlook is promising.  His new book, “The 3rd Alternative,” presents one of the most positive approaches to this universal issue that I have seen.

You remember Covey from his mega-seller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” which has helped millions organize their lives and their thinking.  He briefly introduced this concept in that book, calling it “the most catalytic, the most empowering, the most unifying, and the most exciting” of all the principles he wrote about.

Covey defines the “The 3rd Alternative” as not my way; not your way; it’s a 3rd way we create together that is better than what either of us is thinking.  When facing a critical difference with someone, you ask, “Would you be willing to work with me to create a solution that is better than what either of us wants now?”

Conflict is a natural part of life.  “Life is full of problems.  Problems that seem impossible to solve,” he writes.  “. . . we lose hope, give up, or settle for a compromise that doesn’t feel so good in the end.”

Covey says his “3rd Alternative” works equally well on a playground, a battlefield, a boardroom, a legislative chamber, or a family kitchen.  And he says it is “the key to solving life’s most difficult problems.”

How does it work?  “To solve our most difficult problems, we must radically change our thinking,” he teaches.  “You will find yourself poised on a transition point between your past, whatever it has been, and a future you have never imagined until now.  You will discover within yourself a talent for change.”

With conflict seemingly everywhere, the need for a book like this is obvious.  Covey has organized it into chapters that deal specifically with applying the 3^rd Alternative at work, at home, at school, within the law, in society, in the world and living an Alternative life.  The anecdotal examples are helpful in that you can place yourself in similar situations.  He explains the significance of creating positive synergy so that it isn’t just another buzzword.

Finally, he presents twenty solutions that a successful 3^rd Alternative thinker will employ – from the inside out.  I’d like to emphasize a few of them:

• “Beware of pride.  Let go of needing always to be ‘right.’”  How difficult is it to abandon your “perfect” idea for what may be a much better solution?  I know that’s a struggle for me often enough.  But knowing how alternative thinking can improve so many situations, I’m more than willing to work on this one.
• “Read widely – it’s one of the best ways to make mental connections and get insights that can lead to 3^rd Alternatives.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Every group I speak to hears this message:  Be a lifelong learner.  You can’t stop learning just because you are out of school.
• “Make quiet time for yourself to think through creative 3^rd Alternative solutions to your challenges.”  As important as it is to be able to think on your feet, you sometimes need time to sleep on an idea or separate yourself from the conflict long enough to cool down and reframe your thoughts.
• “Learn how to become enthusiastically relentless about discovering how to create great wins for others – wins that increase their peace, their happiness, and their prosperity.  It will become infectious, and you may often find others seeking the same for you.”  This is perhaps the most important lesson to learn, and to me it means you have achieved a new mindset.  And I have learned that the biggest lesson in negotiating is:  If every party can feel some sense of victory, the solution is usually the right one and success is more likely.

Let me go back to where I started.  Stephen Covey knows his stuff.  I’ve learned plenty from him, and “The 3^rd Alternative” presents a refreshing perspective on negotiating, problem solving and human relations.  Two sides to every argument?  No argument here – this book will change your life.

Mackay’s Moral:  Change your thinking, change your life.