Op-ed | Colin Lovering: Are you a lover, or a fighter?

Mihai-Alexandru Cristea 13/11/2020 | 17:10

The presidential election in the USA has provided many with a wanted or unwanted distraction to the ongoing challenges of Covid-19. We took Brainovate’s  Business Performance Advisor , Colin Lovering away from his TV for a brief moment to share his insight into what lessons can be learnt from this unusual experience.

Op-ed by Colin Lovering, International Business Partner – Brainovate Creative Leadership Consultants

 

As we continue to be both entertained and dismayed by the ongoing fight for that fine leather chair in the Oval Office, we can also draw on the business analogies that are now emerging out from the dirty dusts of battle.

This raw, bare knuckle fist fight has indeed captured the world’s attention although the ringing of the bell normally signals the definitive end of a fight and a blood strewn moment for the gladiators to embrace in the middle of the ring for a brief moment of mutual respect and recognition…… not in this case!

This, of course, is where the comparison ends but let’s look for a moment closer to home and our own, less bloody yet equally important battles and endeavours to stay one step ahead of the competition and sustain a valuable image of professionalism and dignity.

Now, you may be pre-guessing my preference out of the two aforementioned fighters but we can learn something from both sides regarding our passion and drive for continued success in our respective businesses.

We have one clear tactic of fiercely trashing the competition to emphasize our strengths versus a more passive approach of focusing on our key strengths enabling a more subtle comparison and influence of choice. This, however, does come with the danger of it actually being too passive and, therefore, not so stimulating or attractive enough (it’s true that wine connoisseurs buy a bottle of wine from the information on the label at the back and non-connoisseurs will usually buy because of the cool or trendy one at the front)

As a business leader, you have to decide which is the best approach depending on whether your need is for a short-term fix or long-term sustainability and image.

Most business leaders will be looking for the latter as achieving a proud legacy forms an important part of everyday decision making and, although, the attack approach can bring in some substantial short term gains, the second order and the third order from the customer will be more crucial and satisfying. However, a sprinkling of more powerful, direct yet honest persuasion can give that extra edge without damaging those longer-term objectives and goals.

If we pop back to our battle in the USA, we can see a possible positive legacy at risk and all of the good decisions and policies that were made being completely wiped out by the current post-election battle.

Leadership and Influence in the Romanian business world has evolved dramatically through this Covid-19 year with new super skills such as Emotional Intelligence and Legacy Leadership floating to the top of development agendas in all industries.

So, we will continue to watch, like one of those graphic Discovery Channel episodes, as these two beasts fight it out to the grisly end.

We, as professional business people should always have forsight to see weeks and months ahead. As a business coach I am frequently asking the question “how will you feel about your decision in 12 months, go on, picture that moment and look back on what you are about to do and then decide

Finally, the recent news of a vital development in the discovery of a vaccine for Covid-19 will, I’m sure deliver a significant impact on the Romanian business community as we realize that there IS light at the end of the tunnel and, despite it being early days, the weight it will lift of the shoulders in the boardroom and it will inject, if you excuse the pun, a much needed confidence and more realistic forecast for 2021 providing, of course, that we continue to be vigilant and respectful of this pandemic.

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The March (II) 2024 issue of Business Review Magazine is now available in digital format, featuring the main cover story titled “BAT DBS Romania Hub: A Vibrant New Office For An Employee-Centric
Mihai-Alexandru Cristea | 27/03/2024 | 17:32
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