Let's agree to disagree...

This week, when voters in 22 states cast their ballots in Presidential Primary races, they took part in what is a 230-year-old social experiment. When the framers were writing the Constitution, it was feared, amongst many people in the young nation, that a nation could not be formed because the power of factions would undoubtedly trample the rights of the minority.

In the months following the writing of the United States Constitution, a group of men – Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison – wrote a series of essays arguing in favor of forming the Union. Signing them “Publius,” these essays appeared in various papers to persuade wary voters to ratify the constitution. Federalist No. 10, written by James Madison, provided a pivotal argument for the creation of a union. Madison writes:

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

In this statement, and throughout the essay, Madison argues that a diversity of ideas encourages liberty and that a republican government prevents any one faction from trampling the rights of others. In other words: reasonable people can disagree.

And so, for the last 230 years, we have been a nation that disagrees without being disagreeable…well – with the exception of the 4 years of the Civil War. It could be argued that this commitment to enlightened discourse that has helped propel the US through the trials that would otherwise undo any young nation.

So what does this have to do with corporate training? Well, if a diversity of ideas is key to the birth, growth, and success of a young nation – what can it do for your organization? At Barnes & Conti, we call it Constructive Debate. This process allows you to express your ideas, engage the opinions of others, build on one another’s ideas, challenge one another’s thinking, and empower your organization to move forward. Constructive Debate is at the cornerstone of all collaboration efforts and prevents great ideas and “off-the-wall” notions from being quieted by loud voices and emotion rather than passion.

As this election year presses on, we are reminded that this democratic experiment has succeeded largely because civil discourse has allowed the best ideas to rise and for majority rule to exist without trampling minority rights. Similarly, discussion and debate can be the air that feeds the fire of success in your organization.

Grace Boone is Barnes & Conti's Marketing Manager.

For more information on how Constructive Debate can help your organization, visit: http://barnesconti.com/programs/debate.html or call Barnes & Conti at 800.835.0911

For the full text of Federalist No. 10: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed10.htm

Alternative Energy Still Needs Traditional Leadership Skills

Alternative energy could be the single most important issue that we face in the 21st century. Moving our global economy away from petroleum and toward a healthy and sustainable source of renewable energy will take tremendous effort, dedication, passion, and commitment of resources. Although scientific strides are being made--the Energy Bioscience Institute in Berkeley, Calif. is a huge step in the right direction--we don't often hear about another extremely important factor: the development and advancement of leadership skills in the alternative energy industry. While science is making impressive discoveries, the industry needs to make a commitment to develop the leadership and interpersonal communication skills that must accompany technical aptitude for a successful transition to sustainability.

Having consulted for a bio-fuels company before joining Barnes & Conti, I can say that Barnes & Conti is uniquely able to support the development of these difficult skills in the alternative energy industry. Barnes & Conti already has significant experience working with scientists, research laboratories, and several organizations that are leading the field in alternative energy research. Beyond that, our energetic staff of trainers and consultants possess a combination of an environmental consciousness that is second to none and a business acumen that allows Barnes & Conti to understand the training needs to both established corporations as well as the smaller and more innovative start-ups that are beginning to surface. In fact, three of our courses - Exercising Influence, Constructive Debate, and Managing Innovation - specifically address areas that are vital to the growth of these emerging green industries.

Earning the widespread support needed to enact the serious changes in policy and behavior that will make a difference requires clear communication and effective influence skills. Barnes & Conti’s Exercising Influence program strengthens the expressive and receptive components of communication and develops the flexibility and focus to know when and how to best use those components. The need to blend the passion of environmentalism and social justice with entrepreneurialism and industry provides an appropriate venue for these skills.

Our Managing Innovation and Constructive Debate programs will prove equally useful. We desperately need innovative solutions to reduce our reliance on petroleum. While our Managing Innovation program teaches the skill-sets and mind-sets needed to produce the maximum value from new ideas, our Constructive Debate program teaches the skills needed to make sure that the best ideas get brought to the forefront. The urgency of the climate crisis creates the temptation to enact individual “good” ideas immediately. However, by engaging the differing viewpoints and moving past vested interests in a civil dialogue, leaders can identify the best ideas – the ones that will truly make a difference – and move those ideas into action

This is the time for moving ideas into action – particularly because inaction will have devastating consequences. The alternative energy industry is an exciting and evolving marketplace, and Barnes & Conti has the knowledge, passion, and programs to help develop the skills needed for sustained success and a better tomorrow.

by Sam Roberts

For more information on how Barnes & Conti can help your company, visit www.barnesconti.com or call 800.835.0911.