Week 4, Day 1: Face to face with the protagonist.
Man !! Trust, HBS to induce un-learning.... they go the whole nine yards.
For me, Negotiation was always so much associated with "Art" and relatively distant from "Science".
When I succeeded, in a negotiation, I would inwardly smile, pat myself on the back and say "Dude, well done, you are one shrewd negotiator here",
and when the negotiation did not go well, "Aw, that's the Art part I don't have. Hope, I will get it better next time"
You get the picture - Take the credit, give the blame. Yes, that one.
Well it turns out, this school of thought is not more my favorite. As I unlearn that negotiation is closer to science than art. There is a specific framework for negotiation, a specific methodology (we learnt about the 3D method), a specific thought process to enlarge the pie and most importantly the very act of negotiation - how well, you make the other party perceive that they have acquired what they had in mind.
And from now on (sigh!!!) it also means there are no more places to hide. In case negos don't go well, it simply means that I did not do my homework well.
The last mile... almost.
You do not have to check the program calendar to know, that this is the last week for this module. The program office has done well ! We have packing material right up to our living groups, in case, you wanted to packup the additional items, and want them to be shipped somewhere. Almost every one is talking about it - this is the last week, of the current module.
There seems to be renewed, energy in everyone on what they will be doing for the next 4 weeks (that's the break we get, before we come back to the next module).
Wait a sec, did I say break. Scratch that... no break - we get tonnes of things to do, books to read, make and refine our "Re-entry strategy" - and oh by the way, the crisis of day to day life that you sort of left back of, keeps piling up to solve. But, then none of us expected the outcome any other way.
Face to face with the protagonist
For me, case studies are a great method to learn. But, there is always that expectation, that what you are seeing in the case study, is only those words that are documented in the same. While, each case study has been developed by people - who really know, what they are putting up - there was always an yearn to connect with the real life people behind them. To ask, them iteratively, what if scenarios - what was going on in their mind, when they took this decision or that decision. It was always interesting to validate your own understanding with what actually was going on - for the world at that time. This came true, today, when we had the opportunity to interact with one of the protagonist of our case study himself was the professor of the discussion.
It was amazing to feel the passion, the challenges, the drivers of the decision point. The issue was not if he was right or wrong; Most of the times, there are no right answers - just the ones that you take, the issue was on understanding how the answer was arrived at. This was an immensely gratifying experience.
"When faced with consistent gloomy picture, you will seize the opportunity, however small the window."
err.... do not be confused, if that his not appearing to be profound. That brilliant, extra-ordinary quote was penned by me - just now. It kinda, goes with the format of this blog. :)
In plain English, it basically says that yesterday (Sunday), we had about 3-4 hours of day time, when there was no rain, very mild snow, and I took the opportunity to swing my camera bag on my shoulders and visit downtown for some shots... nothing earth shattering came out of it yet - but then it did give me a sense of being me. That, felt so refreshing.
Learning for the day.
1. Negotiation is closer to Science, than Art.
2. Most of the time, there is NO correlation, between happiness and outcome of the negotiation. On the contrary, there is almost a direct link to happiness and how you were treated during negotiation. (ah... hmm.... interesting).
3. Company finance is best left to people who know about it. (I know I learnt it earlier, but what can I do, I learnt it again today !!)
4. There are a tonnes of things happening around you, many of it important, mostly chatter. You cannot participate or immense in all. Divide your time (and the intensity of the time) on things close to you. As a person, focus on things that is important to you, focus on people that are important for you.
Alok
Man !! Trust, HBS to induce un-learning.... they go the whole nine yards.
For me, Negotiation was always so much associated with "Art" and relatively distant from "Science".
When I succeeded, in a negotiation, I would inwardly smile, pat myself on the back and say "Dude, well done, you are one shrewd negotiator here",
and when the negotiation did not go well, "Aw, that's the Art part I don't have. Hope, I will get it better next time"
You get the picture - Take the credit, give the blame. Yes, that one.
Well it turns out, this school of thought is not more my favorite. As I unlearn that negotiation is closer to science than art. There is a specific framework for negotiation, a specific methodology (we learnt about the 3D method), a specific thought process to enlarge the pie and most importantly the very act of negotiation - how well, you make the other party perceive that they have acquired what they had in mind.
And from now on (sigh!!!) it also means there are no more places to hide. In case negos don't go well, it simply means that I did not do my homework well.
The last mile... almost.
You do not have to check the program calendar to know, that this is the last week for this module. The program office has done well ! We have packing material right up to our living groups, in case, you wanted to packup the additional items, and want them to be shipped somewhere. Almost every one is talking about it - this is the last week, of the current module.
There seems to be renewed, energy in everyone on what they will be doing for the next 4 weeks (that's the break we get, before we come back to the next module).
Wait a sec, did I say break. Scratch that... no break - we get tonnes of things to do, books to read, make and refine our "Re-entry strategy" - and oh by the way, the crisis of day to day life that you sort of left back of, keeps piling up to solve. But, then none of us expected the outcome any other way.
Face to face with the protagonist
For me, case studies are a great method to learn. But, there is always that expectation, that what you are seeing in the case study, is only those words that are documented in the same. While, each case study has been developed by people - who really know, what they are putting up - there was always an yearn to connect with the real life people behind them. To ask, them iteratively, what if scenarios - what was going on in their mind, when they took this decision or that decision. It was always interesting to validate your own understanding with what actually was going on - for the world at that time. This came true, today, when we had the opportunity to interact with one of the protagonist of our case study himself was the professor of the discussion.
It was amazing to feel the passion, the challenges, the drivers of the decision point. The issue was not if he was right or wrong; Most of the times, there are no right answers - just the ones that you take, the issue was on understanding how the answer was arrived at. This was an immensely gratifying experience.
"When faced with consistent gloomy picture, you will seize the opportunity, however small the window."
err.... do not be confused, if that his not appearing to be profound. That brilliant, extra-ordinary quote was penned by me - just now. It kinda, goes with the format of this blog. :)
In plain English, it basically says that yesterday (Sunday), we had about 3-4 hours of day time, when there was no rain, very mild snow, and I took the opportunity to swing my camera bag on my shoulders and visit downtown for some shots... nothing earth shattering came out of it yet - but then it did give me a sense of being me. That, felt so refreshing.
Learning for the day.
1. Negotiation is closer to Science, than Art.
2. Most of the time, there is NO correlation, between happiness and outcome of the negotiation. On the contrary, there is almost a direct link to happiness and how you were treated during negotiation. (ah... hmm.... interesting).
3. Company finance is best left to people who know about it. (I know I learnt it earlier, but what can I do, I learnt it again today !!)
4. There are a tonnes of things happening around you, many of it important, mostly chatter. You cannot participate or immense in all. Divide your time (and the intensity of the time) on things close to you. As a person, focus on things that is important to you, focus on people that are important for you.
Alok
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