Incredible!! The level of hate as shown on any media today is just that, incredible. Thieving, beating, sexual abusing and murdering seem taken as the “New Normal.” Young people are throwing away future careers as they appear in the omnipresent media shouting hate towards one group. Wearing masks simply make them look like common criminals. What are they thinking, comes to mind.
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) fads appear to be fading even as their original definitions are lost. This pundit has been in the workforce since 1974 and before that the military experience. To say I have seen it all is an understatement. Well run organizations adhere to the original tenets of these two business/social models
That said, my perspective follows:
Servant Leadership
With a focus on people, this leadership style seeks to develop all individuals and get the best out of cross cultural teams.
- Diversity–We live in a world of over 8 Billion people. We all know the level of diverse cultures, lifestyle and locales. The likelihood that one organization is composed of all of one type is farcical. So get over it!
- Equity–Everyone wants to be treated fairly. A company I was with was acquired. The culture divided the employees into two groups. Those who were hired directly and those who transitioned as a result of M&A activities. As might be expected the mergers were most dilutive (huge employee turnover) and eventually that organization was eaten by an even bigger fish. More like Lose–Lose!
- Inclusion–People want to be included and allowed to contribute even if they are awkward about it. One of the best true stories on this subject is depicted in the 2004 television movie, Something the Lord Made. Two very different men in a racially challenged Jim Crow era were able to get past many issues and developed a solution for a deadly infant disease. If you have not seen it; well worth your time.
Stewardship
One definition by Michael Barber; “Stewardship is leaving a system better than you found it,” is a very powerful statement. Our Blog of April 25, 2022, ESG Explained defined these terms:
- Environmental–Generally refers to the stewardship of the planet and how organizations facilitate that responsibility.
- Social–Facilitating organizational responsibility to the global society, at all levels from the globe to the local communities firms operate in.
- (Corporate) Governance–Typically, the umbrella organizations put in place to assure issues such as transparency, fraud, safety culture and ethics are in compliance with social norms and local regulations.
Finally, over twenty years ago after all of the managerial nonsense that sent many “C” levels to jail from our 2011 White Paper Asset/Equipment Integrity Governance: Operations-Enterprise Alignment: A Case for Board Oversight, “During that period (2002), McKinsey & Company in conjunction with the Global Corporate Governance Forum conducted a study and found that over 75% of over 200 fund managers would value a stock at a higher price point if the company could demonstrate it had strong governance in place. Moreover, the study also revealed that for western markets, firms with strong shareholder rights averaged 12-14% higher stock prices .”
It Makes No Sense to Run any Organization Badly. Either to stakeholders or yourself.
Gaming the System
Those of us at a certain age are familiar with the song, Walk A Mile In My Shoes. What would you say if I told you that using technology multiple parties can exchange their boots?
There is a way using Virtual Training to interact with other cultures and effectively Walk A Mile In Their Shoes (and they in yours). “Virtual training typically refers to a specific form of online education that focuses on skill development and practical training. It often involves structured courses or programs designed to teach specific skills or tasks.”
Based on International Negotiation experiences, processes and technology tools we have developed an online game. It enables collaboration or even simulate organizational conflict.
Additional information is available on our Cross Cultural Serious Game Portal. Check it out, I think you will like it and its a way to help cool the cultural hate being unleashed
Walk A Virtual Mile in the Other’s Shoes. Who Knows You May Even Like it.
For More Information
Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials herein. They are provided for education and entertainment only.
See our Economic Value Proposition Matrix® (EVPM) for additional information and a free version to build your own EVPM.
The author’s credentials in this field are available on his LinkedIn page. Moreover, Dr. Shemwell is a coauthor of the just published book, “Smart Manufacturing: Integrating Transformational Technologies for Competitiveness and Sustainability.” His focus is on Operational Technologies.
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” (Martin Luther King speech at Cornell College, 1962). For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game. You can contact this author as well.
For more details regarding climate change models, check out Bjorn Lomborg ands his latest book, False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet.
Regarding the economics of Climate Change, check out our recent blog, Crippling Green.
For those start-up firms addressing energy (including renewables) challenges, the author can put you in touch with Global Energy Mentors which provide no-cost mentoring services from energy experts. If interested, check it out and give me a shout.