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Management Of Opposition - Articles Surfing


Opposition is anything that works counter to a given desire. It may be as minor as that little pebble on the way, which you can trip over if not taken into consideration and step carelessly on it, in which case it has worked counter to your desire of a thorough fare or it can be as serious as death that works counter to the desire to stay alive.

The issue of managing opposition arises because of the need to take control and not to be surprised. A thoughtful person would give some attention to almost everything before they appear that is anticipate oppositions, while most people bump into oppositions before they stop to look at what stopped them so rudely. Others apply blind force either pushing the opposition back and out of the way or get themselves pushed back or crushed.

The aim of this introductory write up is to examine seven distinct treatments or reactions that opposition can be subjected to so as not to taken by surprise. The seven possible reactions are: (1)ignoring, (2)avoiding, (3)capitulating, (4)compromising, (5)overwhelming, (6)demobilizing and (7)destroying.

Capitulating, compromising and overwhelming can be grouped together into what can be called the 'circle of accommodation'. While serials 1-5 may not involve violence, serials 6 and 7 may involve one or other form of violence. The first two are however possible if the opposition is insignificant or the desire not material enough and as such may be dropped or substituted for. In any case some consideration must be given to the opposition before the choice of treatment. Sometimes, treatment of opposition can be progressive that is graduating from one form to the other. There is no law that says that the sequence of discussion is the sequence of application. Indeed, a desire to destroy an opposition may be replaced with ignoring, and a compromise may replace avoidance or a demobilizing.

Ignoring Opposition:

This is perhaps the first option in most cases. Except where the opposition is from a known source, most of the time it is natural to want to wish it away. However, to do nothing about any given opposing tendency is preparing to surrender to it, or to abandon the relevant desire. Ignoring is usually only a temporary reaction.

Avoiding Opposition:

Staying clear or keeping out of the way or environment of a given opposing tendency ordinarily does not mean cowardice, indeed it may be a way of studying the situation so as to adopt the best approach or waiting for an opportunity to deliver a master stroke. Both ignoring and avoiding may be looked at as passive reactions but sometimes elaborate steps may have to be taken to ignore or avoid oppositions. And often the opposed is forced to step into the accommodating circle.

The Circle Of Accommodation

Each of the three reactions within the Circle of Accommodation is a product of the need for both the desirer and opposition to remain and retain their individual identities, albeit subject to a mutual understanding. The Circle of Accommodation can be viewed in two ways, for it usually contains items that are either mutually hated or desired. A straight line across this circle is the reality distance between the desirer and the opposition. The size of the circle determines the mutual importance of the subject matter to both parties. A casual observer or an arbitrator may find surprisingly that the size of the circle is not necessarily the same for both parties. Reactions within the circle of accommodation is common amongst family members, and other relationships in which all stand to benefit and the existence of one may not necessarily be detrimental to the other. However, there may be situations where members of the same nuclear family avoid each other like the plague and even take steps to eliminate each other. An important tool for within the circle of accommodation is ability to negotiate.

Capitulating to Opposition:

The capitulating reaction is a total surrender, without any resistance. It is a position of absolute domination by the opposing tendency. The desirer though still identifiable and can make cases for himself when the opposition allows, has to agree to whatever the opposition says. The desirer moves completely across the 'circle of accommodation' in a mutually detestable situation to the side of the opposition. But if in a mutually desirable situation, then the desirer has allowed the opposition to move completely across the circle to his side.

Compromising With Opposition:

Any form of compromise means that both the desirer and opposition have moved from their individual ends of the straight line across the Circle of Accommodation. The percentage ranges from say 0.1% - 99.9% for the Desirer, to 0.1% ' 99.9% for the opposition. An absolutely fair situation ordinarily would have been a 50/50 which would mean equal share of opportunities, rights, privileges and obligations.

Overwhelming The Opposition

Overwhelming the opposition which is the direct opposite of capitulation is the product of using superior strategies, tactics or craftiness to keep the opposition at his end of the straight line across the circle of accommodation in a mutually desirable situation, or pulling the opposition across the circle to the side of the desirer in a mutually detestable situation.

Demobilizing Opposition

Demobilizing or incapacitating the opposition would have been the most preferable of all reactions to opposition. The wisest king of all times however says that this situation can only be achieved when one's ways are pleasing to the Lord God of Heaven. Proverbs 16, verse 7.

It is the position that many seek after which leads to so much acrimony in the affairs of man today. Reality tends to suggest that it is easier to destroy an opposition than to demobilize or incapacitate any given opposition. This is so because many oppositions do not do much more than talk to the hearing of those who can pose any threat to the desirer. To tranquilize both those who spoke and those who actually took physical action to oppose may not be impracticable.

Destroying The Opposition

To destroy a given opposition would have been the best option to the desirer but numerous conditions make this option impracticable most of the time. The conditions militating against destroying any given opposition range from non-desirability through legality and unto impracticability. The desirer therefore is forced to settle for any of the other options.

The Reality About Opposition

In reality, the nature of any given opposition obviously determines the most appropriate reaction that will help to manage it. However knowledge of the opposition seen to be an over-riding pre-requisite. Nations and military authorities spend large amounts of resources to gain useful knowledge about the opposition. The fetish consult with the spirits to gain information about oppositions. All future projection or forecasting activities are geared towards providing useful information about oppositions. Mans' venture into space or other unknowns may not be removed from the need to gather information that will facilitate the appropriate steps to be taken so as to manage opposition properly. Many a supplication of the faithful certainly must include need to manage oppositions. One can safely conclude therefore, that opposition is as real as desire. For as long as man will desire anything that is not already in his pocket, he should be prepared to face some opposition if that which is desired is worth anything.

Submitted by:

Samuel O-David

Samuel O-David is a Retired Army Major, A Pastor and Deliverance Minister. With early life training in Mechanical Engineering, Accountancy and Finance. Interests include developing the total man. Sees the internet as one of the best gifts of God to mankind.



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