On Win-Win Solutions
This week we wanted to highlight something called the orange dilemma (how on brand is that?) that teaches a valuable lesson in problem solving, negotiating, and listening - the lessons of which are applicable to many aspects of life. It goes like this:
Imagine two people both in need of an orange to cook with, but there’s only one left. After spending time arguing over who needs it more, who deserves it more, and why they should be the one to get the orange, they took a different approach. Rather than explaining their positions and trying to make solid arguments, they took a step back and considered one another’s interests. As it turns out, one person needed the orange to juice it and make orange juice, and the other needed it to use the peel to make scones.
In Roger Fisher and William Ury’s book “Getting To YES” they contend that negotiation doesn’t always have to end in a draw, and that win-win solutions are possible if you’re willing to listen more than you talk. The lesson of both the book and the story is that focusing on interests and prioritizing one another’s outcomes can help to reach a shared goal if you’re willing to be collaborative rather than combative and listen before you speak.
Next time you’re faced with a dilemma and can’t seem to agree on a solution, try considering interests rather than positions to create a win-win solution. Even if that isn’t possible, negotiations are always easier when you can understand someone’s reason for doing what they’re doing.
Make a Connection
In what was the biggest gathering yet for the seventh annual Social Media Marketing World conference in San Diego, the key takeaway was clear - it’s time to put the “social” back into “social media”. In Dan Gingiss' article he is quick to point out that every leader of every major platform are all saying the same thing-- it's time to make a connection. The article below is loaded with quotable quotes and short bursts of insight that acts as a reminder of the human element behind the data.