Brave is doing the "right" thing when there is
a significant personal danger associated with it.
I will often do the stupid thing (as shown in "Open Forum"),
or the bluffing/blustery thing, but ONLY when I hold almost
all the cards. It's taken me 6 years to get to this position,
and I plan to use my power for good, since I'm a techie
who gets rewarded on accomplishments, and opposed to a manager
to gets rewarded by manipulating people. And I'm a "lifer",
or as close as you get in a company today, which means the
top people (owners, ceo, cto) don't question my motives.
I truly believe the downside of screwing up this project is
major damage to the company, which could include massive
layoffs. While my ego doesn't accept the fact I could be
one of them, anything is possible, so I will allways push
to doing this project right, no matter what toes I step on.
And I'm known for that attitude generally, so I'm trusted.
They key is to accept confrontation as inevitable, and use
it to your advantage. I've just started reading a book
on negotiating, and it explains it's version of the various
personality types, as it relates to negotiation. I am an
aggressive problem solver, which directs my behaviour in
most cases. I'm comfortable with that, so I am typically
happy with the outcomes it produces.
Note to gfolkert:
100% true.
Later on in a meeting with the CEO, as we realized
the true cost to the company of this project, I
was about 95% supportive of him. And they did ask,
directly.
No gloating, at least not person or in front of anyone he knows.