Have you ever heard people talk about going on strike?  Have you seen headlines about strikes?  Do you know someone who will be affected by a strike?  Do you believe that many people fear strikes: employees,  management, families, other businesses and communities?  Did you ever wonder what creates a strike?

I believe that strikes are caused by employees and managements’ lack of skills and/or their unintact Self-Esteem to negotiate and compromise.  It seems that we, as a society, have learned very little from history.  After every war, there is negotiating and compromising.

A strike is an indication that both management and employees need to communicate their needs, wants, and concerns, on an ongoing basis.  They need to be continually establishing a mutually beneficial relationship.

All events in our lives go through a process called gradualism.  A child grows into an adult by the body, mind and spirit changing through the years.  It is a process and it varies for each individual.

Business and organizations develop in similar fashion.  There is birth, infancy, childhood, the teen years, young adulthood, adulthood, maturity and the vintage years.  It does not happen overnight.  It is a process.  Along the way there is always a moment when employees and management become aware of their needs, wants, and values.  If there is a conflict concerning how these are to be met and fulfilled, then resolution needs to take place.  When people are deprived of a need at the point of its highest intensity they will have it met at some other time, in some other way.  This could include: sabotage, slowdowns, sickness, quitting or strikes.

With intact Self-Esteem, there is never a desire to strike because people will communicate at a level where both parties talk about their needs, wants, and values.  They will initiate negotiating and compromising appropriately to establish mutually beneficial results.  Employees and management will listen to everyone’s point of view and be able to create a viewing point that is mutually beneficial.

What is the real fear that causes a strike?  I believe it is the fear of losing control.  Employees want to maintain or achieve a dignified lifestyle.  Management wants to stay in business and make a profit.  Either or both may perceive that their wants will be infringed upon or ignored.

Strikes would not occur if both groups had intact Self-Eteem and were willing to negotiate and compromise.  In the end, both parties will do it anyway.  Does it make sense to negotiate and compromise up front?  I believe so.  Before there is even any sign of discomfort or miscommunication, continuing dialogue is necessary.

Do you ever go on “strike” with your friends, your family, your company, your own business or your associates?  All strikes could end when: people are sensitive to the needs, wants and values of each other; they invest time in cultivating harmonious relationships; they initiate describing their uncomfortable feelings with each other; they upgrade their people knowledge and skills; and they keep their Self-Esteem intact.

So the next time you hear about a strike, remember the words: sensitivity, time, relationships, initiate, knowledge,  Self-Esteem and activate them and  then, watch what happens! 

Affirm:

“I decide to avoid all strikes by negotiating and compromising now.”