The Nature Conservancy has been the target of criticism recently due to its relationship with British Petroleum (BP). Many view their giving BP a seat on their International Leadership Council and their acceptance of land donations as well as millions dollars in cash donations is the equivalent of making a “deal with the devil”. Others abide by the saying that one should “keep their friends close and their enemies closer”. After receiving criticism about their relationship with BP, The Nature Conservancy's Chief Executive, Mark Tercek said, "Anyone serious about doing conservation…must engage these companies, so they are not just part of the problem but so they can be part of the effort to restore this incredible ecosystem." I think I have to agree with Tercek.
The Nature Conservancy isn’t the first group to partner with an opposing force. I think, as a matter of fact, our Government would be much better off if the Democrats and Republicans attempted to “do the right thing” even while holding differing opinions and even differing final goals. Surely there is a way to meet in the middle on several issues – they needn’t all be black and white and split down party lines. Isn’t a half step forward for both sides better than no progress at all? This oil disaster is a true tragedy but this isn’t about the tragedy itself and how it may have been prevented or handled differently. That’s an entirely different topic. It’s more about how organizations can work together towards mutual goals. Can The Nature Conservancy prevent BP from drilling? No, but they can educate them on the impact to the environment and work with them to help minimize that impact. I don’t see any conflict of interest in BP donating to the Nature Conservancy or giving them land to preserve. Can’t an oil company also care about the environment? Sure, although perhaps not to the extent environmentalists do. And while I know this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, I eat meat but I do give to organizations that criticize that practice and encourage people to become vegetarians. I may give up meat one day but I have not yet. I don’t think being a vegetarian is a bad thing or something I don’t support, I am just not a vegetarian myself. I think I can be supportive of organizations who want everyone in the world to be vegetarians without being one myself. So, can’t an oil company also care about the environment while their whole reason for being is a substance that can be ruinous to it? It may seem implausible but it’s not impossible.
There are high profile partnerships that seem unlikely like that of The Nature Conservancy and BP Oil. They don’t seem logical to us as they seem to be in different camps. A while back The Humane Society of the United States partnered with Michael Vick after he was released from prison to help prevent people from participating in any way in dog fighting, the very crime for which he went to prison. Critics lashed out at the HSUS but the organization defended itself by noting how Vick would help them reach and influence an audience they would otherwise have difficulty reaching. And since it could do nothing but help Vick’s damaged image so it was a potential win-win. The same is true with The Conservancy-BP relationship. BP isn’t going to stop drilling for oil and The Conservancy isn’t going to stop their environmental work so why not find ways to work together to forge a win-win? Clearly no one is winning from this massive oil leak into our gulf waters but I’m certain that no one was working towards the creation of such a disaster.
We often hear about the partisan behavior of our politicians but in reality there is a lot of working together happening between Republicans and Democrats who are looking for a win-win for their constituents. If we heard more about those cooperative efforts it might better unite our country than divide it. They might have actual tea parties with one another rather than create movements and protests carrying that same moniker. So often we think it’s us against them – if they aren’t with us then they’re against us but that is not always true. We somehow feel this need to draw a line in the sand every time someone holds an opinion that is contrary to our own. But without cooperation we just spin our wheels. Without cooperation teams lose games, projects are delayed, meetings drag on too long, work doesn’t get done, deadlines are missed, businesses fail, friendships fall apart, marriages deteriorate. Without cooperation frustration mounts, anger sets in, people start choosing sides. Being uncooperative isn’t good for anyone.
Sure, sometimes we need to dig our heels in when it means sticking to our principles – our values. I don’t think we should do dishonest things to realize some personal or professional benefit or that we should act without integrity just to get to a desired end. I’m not a proponent of the Machiavellian belief that the ends justify the means. Sometimes, maybe, but not when the means have me behaving in a way that goes against my values. But I think we need to challenge ourselves more to find that common ground even when we think there is none. We need to think outside the box. I may be fundamentally opposed to the oil industry and their methods but still want to work with them. Why? Because maybe if I educate them on environmental matters they’ll work with me to change how they do some things. Because maybe we can collectively find ways to make what they do safer and less harmful to the environment (please let’s hope all oil companies are working in some capacity to realize those goals!).
I believe that too often we make lists that separate things into good and bad. When we do this, however, we leave no room for middle ground, no room for compromise, no room for understanding or cooperation. To be sure, there are times when we feel we just cannot bend and that is okay but when we can bend, when it’s for the greater good, shouldn’t we try to be a little more flexible, a little more cooperative? Isn’t a step forward far better than standing still or moving in reverse even if what we really want is ten steps forward?
As is often the case I think others say what I think so much better and, quite obviously, more succinctly:
It is through cooperation, rather than conflict, that your greatest successes will be derived—Ralph Charell
If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative.—Unknown
It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.
—Napoleon Hill
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. —Helen Adams Keller
If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. —George Bernard Shaw
We should not only use the brains we have, but all that we can borrow. —Thomas Woodrow Wilson
I can’t say it any better than any of these folks. All I know is that as much of a lone wolf as I am, I could never do everything I need or want to do in my life or for my children if I didn’t cooperate with others from time to time. --AMB
Do you encourage cooperation at home or in the workplace? What do you think it takes to get the best out of a “team”?
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