We are living in a society where on every topic imaginable, every on-going debate, people are either for something or against something and at most times both at the same time. This is a condition which typically leads to more polarisation and alienation than consensus. We seem to have forgotten the art of debate.
We only communicate to influence or nudge others towards our point of view. Others do the same to us. And all of us get frustrated and angry when none of us is able to influence each other.
We seem to have forgotten the cardinal rule of persuasion – We need to be open to be persuaded and influenced, in order to persuade and influence.
Without this openness to get influenced, we are like the woodpecker pecking away at a steel board trying to find worms to eat. We will only get more frustrated and angry when we don’t get what we are looking for.
The result is that we are looking at a potential trade wars which goes against everything that globalisation has achieved in the past few decades. All the progress that we have made so far seems to be at stake.
Here is Marshall Goldsmith sharing how important it is to avoid this either/or thinking and how to go about doing it.
We need leaders who can understand this state of affairs and are willing to change the dialogue and are willing to change their views and find common middle ground, so that we do not end up creating more polarisation that what is already existing.
The question is where will these leaders come from?
I strongly believe that the leaders who will change the dialogue need to come from the world of business. If the CEO’s of large corporates step up and start the dialogue, the world will stop and listen. They have the clout to start a dialogue in the public discourse. They have the clout to make the policy makers sit up and take notice. But when they come together as a group, they have the potential to make a big difference in the outcome of the current public discourse.
The challenge here is why would they want to do that, as this involves quite a bit of risk for their individual businesses.
I believe that it is in their interest to do something about the trade wars now, before it escalates. If not, every one of the global businesses will find themselves struggling in all the ways that they would not want to struggle – increased governance, reduced demand, increase tax payout and many more. All of these will have a significant impact on their profitability and long term survival.
In conclusion:
In conclusion, I believe that we need a global corporate leader to take initiative and be the hero that they can be and change the direction of the on-going public discourse and steer us away from the looming trade wars. They would then have done a big service to not only to their business but to all humanity.
The question is who will bell the cat and start this conversation?
