The ultimate negotiation strategy
Posted by Sharon 26 November 2011
Many years ago I read about tit for tat as the ultimate negotiation strategy. This updated version is an enhancement that really covers all bases - tit for tat with gratuitous friendliness.
The traditional tit for tat strategy says to start cooperatively then match the other party’s response (but don’t escalate). However it may still escalate if you are not careful, so when things seem to be getting out of control, the enhancement of “gratuitous friendliness” means you can call a halt to the escalation.
Examples include “let’s take a step back”, “I think we are furiously agreeing here”, “let’s check in what we both agree on”, “we seem to have gotten off to a rocky start, let’s start over”, “I’m sorry if I have misunderstood”. All these friendly / accommodating phrases, now make even more sense as ways to break a spiral of aggression.
Who should directors be responsible to?
Posted by Sharon 26 November 2011
After a month of argument and counter argument on the Next Director LinkedIn Group, I think it is time to move on and start to answer a much more interesting question: Who do we think directors should be responsible to?
Should we only be answerable to shareholders, or do we also have some obligation to our societies in which these businesses operate?
Are CEO’s responsible to shareholders or stakeholders?
Posted by Sharon 15 October 2011
I love this question but wonder whether I am naive - the answer seems obvious to me (although making it happen will be harder).
The responsibility to shareholders as the primary beneficiaries is currently enshrined in legislation which is created by legislators to serve society (supposedly). When this legislation no longer serves the needs of society we can either put pressure on corporations to do more than the legislation requires, or society can put pressure on the legislators to change the law.
It’s interesting that corporations seem to have become a law unto themselves, but with sustained pressure we can change the legislation as has happened in the USA with B Corporations legislation which allows corporations to serve stakeholders not just shareholders. Bring on this option in Australia I say!
The triumph of technology or humanity
Posted by Sharon 15 October 2011
I am enjoying reading a friend’s first encounters with the Apple iPhone 4S. Steve B has a wicked sense of humour and has started asking Siri questions such as “What is the meaning of life Siri?” to the hilarious response of “I don’t know but I think there is an app for that!”.
He then tried the ultimate command “open the pod doors Siri” to a response of “sigh” and after some funny back and forth about insensitivity to intelligent agents, finally got the response, “I’m afraid I can’t do that Steve…are you happy now?”
Is this technology getting clever or humans programmers having the best time of their lives with technology that can deliver their dreams into reality. I can only imagine how much fun it must have been in the Apple programmers’ workplaces calling out “what about this one Steve?” - Steve Jobs RIP.
Sustainability - when less is sufficient
Posted by Sharon 25 September 2011
Three years on from first being introduced to Gayle Avery and her work on sustainable leadership and I still cannot easily explain what I mean by the word sustainability. Now my colleagues at the Greenbiz.com Linked In Group are asking whether we need to move beyond sustainability because to some, sustainability implies sustaining ‘what is’ i.e. the status quo.
This implies that ‘what is’ is not enough and that more is better and this common business view continues to trouble me. For me sustainability is closer to sufficiency but I don’t quite know how to apply this to examples such as health, love etc. because more more health or love does sound better than sufficient health or love, except to the extent that I don’t need to strive so hard with the former.
The meaning I prefer is adaptiveness - where sustainability means our leadership, organisational and national capacity to adapt to changing environments. And in some environmental contexts more is better, whilst in others less is sufficient.
Giving Voice to Values in paperback
Posted by Sharon 24 September 2011
Good to hear that one of my favourite books - Giving Voice to Values, by Mary Gentile - is coming out in paperback. Next month’s task is to get the Australian Institute of Management bookshop to stock it. They will be great to use as reference sources in programs.
Towards the end of the year I will be starting a series of case studies around common Australian business ethical dilemmas - with a sustainability theme. Watch out for new workshops in the new year.
Dangerous or unfashionable - ideas for everyone
Posted by Sharon 24 September 2011
After reading Alexander McCall Smith’s article in the Sydney Morning Herald about his writing being deeply unfashionable when he started, I decided to allow myself to be deeply unfashionable too. As I consequence I am off to the Opera Theatre next weekend to listen to a day of divergent and potentially unfashionable talks at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
First I’ll listed to McCall himself talk about the idea of society being broken and whether and how we can knit it back together with civility and kindness. Or are they old-fashioned ideas?
Next, I’ll listen to a panel discussing whether some aboriginals are more aboriginal than others.
Then I’m off to hear Cheryl Kernot, Dick Smith and Philip Nitschke talk about changing their minds, a deeply unfashionable trait in the current environment.
Finally, I will listen to a panel discussing citizen’s revolutions and how we can participate in creating a world we all want to live in.
Looking forward to it. Join me if you dare.
Vale Ray Anderson a Sustainability Role Model
Posted by Sharon 14 August 2011
I was saddened to read the news that Ray Anderson, the Chairman and former CEO of flooring services business Interface, had died on August 9th. He was a great role model of a sustainable leader and his inspiration will be sadly missed.
Watch him give a TED talk here about the business logic of sustainability.
A champion team beats a team of champions
Posted by Sharon 18 July 2011
I’m back on the couch enjoying the Tour de France and the sprint stages continue to reinforce Belbin’s maxim that a “champion team [with a common purpose] will beat a team of champions”.
Mark Cavendish’s team mates have one goal - to get him to the finish line with the best possible chance of winning the stage - and in Stage 19 they’ve done it again.
How to create a movement
Posted by Sharon 25 May 2011
Love it. Watch it and cheer!
It takes courage to be a leader because you can equally be considered just a lone nut, but in the view of Derek Sivers, its even more important to be the first follower, that’s what gets the momentum rolling.
So leaders, remember to nurture your first followers, not think “it’s all about me”.