I call this post part 2 because some time ago I wrote about Relations. Relations (part 1)
I wrote the post at a time when I was in the middle of negotiating a contract but the parties were so far apart no end was in sight. We had stopped meeting, stopped talking face to face and instead were engaging in legal battles. Not to mention the all out PR war both sides were fighting.
At that time, I wanted to take a step back and remember what should have been our focal point.
Relations. As in how to better relate with each other.
It didn’t happen. Instead, we ended where the parties (my side) had no intention of settling unless they “won” on their terms. Their terms alone. And in the end, the other side simply waited us out.
Why would we do that? My principals felt they were “right.” And couldn’t understand how the other side refused to simply agree to what we had to have in order to settle. On our terms.
In that post, I was also trying to answer the question frequently asked of me, “What do you do?”
Officially, I work in labor relations but really I’m in the business of Relations.
And really, that’s what we all do for a living or otherwise.
Our “business” is relating to others.
As in Relations.
So continuing that line of thought…
Consider this…
Relations are what it’s all about when it comes to……
Everything
I didn’t always follow this reasoning and my lack of results speak to this truth.
Everything comes back to relations. From this perspective, this may be why we were unable to reach a contract agreement a year ago.
So with that in mind,
do you want to be a better:
negotiator;
worker;
supervisor;
neighbor;
at existing with everyone else.
Do you want to reach your resolutions?
Trust me
it’s simple
it’s about
relations.
Just as I can’t force you to accept my will, you aren’t able to force me to acquiesce to yours. In order to get along, a mutual understanding has to occur. In negotiation, I get some of what I need and I agree to give you some of what you need. Both sides leave the table thinking they both “won” or that both sides “lost.”
How do I improve my relations?
What’s it take to get along?
Summed up here:
You gain, I gain.
I lose, You lose.
I’ve just got to remember.
JT