Othering

Simple and clear illustration of the “othering” rhetoric used by the populists. So why do nations fall into this trap over and over again?

Last week in the news:

  • close borders and increase import tariffs
  • send out refugees and paperless people
  • hang crosses in public places
  • Canadians are horrified to learn that mapple syrup is made in the US!

Client Centricity

Where is your client? Still queuing to be served? Confused, intimidated, lost? Then change, transform, evolve before it’s too late.

Love, spoil, surpirse your client.

Your client is a magnet, she can attract or repel many new ones.

Lessons learned this week

Lessons learned this week:

– Think about the pictures in the heads of people you negotiate with.

– Conscientiousness is a great personality trait that would support your personal and professional lives should you develop it

– The speed of macro and micro business environment changes forces us to adapt and improve daily

… and yes, Salah is faster then the ball 🙂

Global Competitiveness

Here are the top 10 economies from the 2017-2018 Global Competitiveness report.

I have come to a great definition of competitiveness. “It is your ability to reach your goals”!

How competitive are you? What makes Switzerland a definite world leader in competition? Can you apply their best practices?

The Show Must Go On!

I’ve received this message from a friend, who’s happy to have finally signed an agreement with one of his key customers. He works for a multinational corporation, his company is a global market leader and yet, at each negotiation campaign he risks it all. Sounds familiar?

Balance of power is essential in each negotiation process. A junior athlete or a young actor risk signing a contract with a predatory agent. A graduate is most likely to be overworked and underpaid. Why? Because they are on the wrong side of the power scales. They have no leverage in negotiations. What will they lose in case of a non-agreement? Can they afford it?

What would you lose in your situation? Can you walk away without an agreement? What can you offer? How unique are you or your product? And what about your counterpart? Can they afford a non-agreement? Some cases are definitely take-it-or-leave-it. There is no negotiation on the terms&package for the twenty-year-olds. There is no negotiation for a B-brand with the top retailer.

But yet most cases are show-must-go-on! A compromise must and will be found and business will continue.

“I’ll face it with a grin
I’m never giving in
On, with the show”!
Queen

Conflict Resolution

Thomas-Kilmann model is widely misunderstood.

First, it’s a behavioral model, not a guide to conflict resolution. Then, it has nothing to do with win-win, lose-lose etc.

The only possible positive solution for both parties of the conflict lies in collaborating area. When both input high levels of assertiveness and cooperativeness. “Growing the pie”.

Competing provokes deeper conflict. My way or the highway approach, when submission by force is in no way a solution at all. Playing the muscles is a “lose-lose” too.

And finally, compromising, the cornerstone of modern European ideology is nothing but “lose-lose”.

An interesting book on this subject was written by the FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss, “Never Split the Difference”. I recommend.

What do you do when you fly long-haul?

I talk to strangers.

It is much easier to start conversation with a person stuck next to you whom you will probably never see again.

Here’s just some people I can remember talking to

  • Rimskiy-Korsakov’s grand son, consul of Belgium
  • Tiffany’s diamond buying director
  • GE regional director
  • director of nuclear research institute
  • salesperson selling grass to football stadiums
  • VP of scaffolding making corporation
  • antique floors maker
  • Movie director
  • TV host
  • Bankers
  •  Students
  • Elderly parents visiting their children abroad

And I talk to the crew. They seem to appreciate when someone treats them as people and not serve-me-food-now objects

Have you met some interesting characters on board? Are you the one to tell your life story to a stranger?