DUKE'S MEADOWS -- Regular readers will know that I like to blame 'the company' for not doing enough to make people successful. And that's really not always fair because 'the company' doesn't really exist. It is just a grouping of people...
So, today's rant is about what companies don't do right, but you can read that as being "what management/ leadership don't do right."
And before you start saying "yeah, those meat-heads never get anything right!", remember that leadership is quite a loose term. I use it for anyone with influence to bring about change within a company.
And that undoubtedly includes smart people... like you...
We are not good enough at understanding, educating and preparing our businesses for China... Or for India, for that matter. Or how about the 53 countries in Africa?
They seem distant, you say... and besides, I hear you protest, I run a garage in Birmingham, what's it to me?
Well, for one thing you have probably communicated with someone in one of those countries already today:
- through a call centre
- or online computer help
- or by ordering something electronically
- or through their work in the entertainment industry... beamed through your TV or in a cinema.
Nothing is that distant any more.
We keep assuming that there is plenty of time for us to help these countries with their issues (Millennium Development Goals that are lost, or Gleneagles' Make Poverty History ambitions long since abandoned).
Or that they won't really impact on our society in our lifetimes. Which, of course is rubbish.
If this current economic crisis does not materialise it won't be because the central banks have averted it (sorry Ben, Mervyn, et al.). It will be the result of continuing expansion and growth in markets that we pretend aren't connected to us.
How can businesses adjust to the changes and what can people do?
I dunno. I'm just a change & communications consultant. But here are a few questions that might start an interesting work discussion:
- Do our buying policies help serve countries that need the trade?
- How can we support sustainable development (like drought resistant crops) is developing parts of the world?
- Do we have any way of influencing fertility rates in countries where children are still being born at a rate of 5/6 per woman?
- How can we help keep children in school...? Children who could be contributing more effectively to the economy is a matter of years...
- What kind of investment brings people and communities along with us, rather than sitting in opposition?
Maybe this isn't about China at all. But China serves as a very good measuring stick. When we stand in opposition to administrations, like China, we often appear to be standing against a whole people. When our investments seem only focused on getting money out. Or when our involvement does not take account of what we see clearly around us, then that cannot be helpful in the long-term.
Leaders in business can play a real role in making things different.
It won't be too long until we are looking at China et al and saying "can you lend us a hand?" and they'll ask where we were when they needed help.
/df