The-Negotiation-Society-Magazine-The-Change-Issue

RUSSIA
by Vladislav Andreev
The average size of a Russian apartment is 56.2
square meters: an ironic statistic considering the
country’s physical footprint and 11 time zones.
These small apartments are on average home to
2.6 people. Two-thirds squeeze in a pet. The idea
of working from home is therefore problematic, as
many people simply don’t have the space. Only a
minority, usually senior people, have the luxury of
owning a dacha (an out of city residence) with a
designated room in which to work.
I’ve seen countless kitchens, bedrooms
and living rooms in the backgrounds of video
conferencing calls as most professionals are
working from their 56.2 square meters alongside
their partner, a homeschooled child, and cat
or dog – perhaps with sound effects from a
neighbor doing some drilling. This has affected
the way people conduct negotiations. It’s close to
impossible to be tough on a video call when your
cat strolls in front of your camera, or your child is
loudly demanding attention in the background.
Hence the need for a more flexible negotiation
style, with several key competencies becoming
relevant. It’s become critical to be able to
concentrate, and technical skills are also more
important because you must control the steadiness
of your signal and internet speed, and learn
how to navigate the audio and video settings of
your computer. It’s also crucial to have sufficient
“conscious competence” not to show your entire
screen when presenting, so the other side can’t see
confidential information.
Russians need to change and adapt to the “new
normal” rather than ignore it and wait – not so
different from other nations, but with the added
complications of small-space living.
FRANCE
by Gabriel Man
The initiatives the French government created
to help companies survive Covid-19 included a
partial activity scheme, solidarity funds and state
guaranteed credits, and a relaunch plan of €100
billion euros to jumpstart the reeling economy.
In a bold statement, Bruno Le Maire, Minister
for the Economy and Finances, declared, "We
will meet the needs of all business leaders,
without exception."
French economic distress is echoed wordwide
with the widespread cancellation of events; the
tourism sector in the doldrums, particularly in
places frequented by Chinese travelers; industries
out of supply from China, and so on. The French
organizations the hardest hit are scrambling
to spread tax burdens and reschedule loan
repayments, with entrepreneur-led firms calling
upon the services of credit provider Bpifrance to
help them stay afloat.
The government also announced the virus
would be considered a "force majeure” case for
companies with public contracts, letting them
off penalties in the event of a delay in delivery.
As Le Maire explained, "We wanted to provide
an immediate and powerful response for
companies…we need to put the package in right
away. Our responsibility is to ensure this impact is
limited and economic activity can restart after the
virus as soon as possible." He also called for action
at European level, with fiscal stimulus measures
from the states and the European Central Bank.
Even so, loud voices claim the government
could do more. While a hot topic for debate,
particularly among opposition parties, as a
negotiator it flies in the face of an established
negotiation rule: “You will never win an argument,
so don’t bother trying.” What the future holds
for the French economy is uncertain, but wise
commercial leaders will focus on available aid
and make tough decisions necessary for survival.
24