<p>Oh my word...and then we wonder why things are going the way they are. It´s all because of the existence, or rather, the way we serve each other CUPs of "whatever" in the corporate environment, and not really excluding personal lives from this article. It´s been proven time and time again that 3 of the biggest - if not THE biggest - reasons for the issues we have in relationships are caused by CUP; Communication, Unrealistic expectations and Power play.</p>
<p>Before reading any further, think back to the last meeting you have attended where there wasn´t at least one of the above-mentioned sticking its head out in some way or the other. It doesn´t really matter what relationship you look at or analyse, the major factors affecting its success, failure or problems can be placed in one CUP.</p>
<p>It totally fascinates me and sometimes also amuses me when I walk into meetings where the different parties involved have some sort of mutualism in their visions, yet there is still this "screw you" attitude going around the table. Why? One of my friends (Mr. S, for Solution) in business recently went to a meeting where he was made to wait for 35 minutes before the person he was meeting with (Ms. N, for Needed solution) came down from her office. The very amusing thing is that as stated by their names Mr. S went out of his way to go to Ms. N´s offices and offer her a solution to her problem free of charge in order for the two companies - and also a third company involved - to make a huge success.</p>
<p>The second most amusing thing was that Ms. N also made absolutely no secret of her power playing tactics. The third amusing thing was that Ms. N had absolutely no reason to want to do the whole "Power Ranger" thing. The forth most hilarious thing was that Ms. N most definitely didn´t consider the fact that burning bridges can be an expensive exercise in today´s very sensitive corporate environment.</p>
<p>Now although I´m making this out to be a laughing matter it seems to be a rather big problem in today´s world where companies and people within companies almost lack social skills in certain areas. I´m never a very popular person when we discuss the whole CUP scenario, but hey, somebody has to do the dirty job and I so love it to do the dishes. A couple of lines of text above this I asked the question "WHY?"...and the truth is that you will never get an answer that will satisfy you when you ask WHY. So I have made a point of not asking WHY people and companies try to CUP the other. It just doesn´t make any sense.</p>
<p>Note: the "C" in CUP refers to: Incomplete communication, unclear communication, no communication, wrong communication format (e.g.: e-mail instead of personal), wrong perception of what was said, etc. Discussing each of the letters in CUP will most certainly allow for another 100 articles and opinions, but the point is: "It doesn´t pay off!"</p>
<p>Let me then just discuss the less clear and obvious, yet first letter of CUP, since power play and unrealistic expectations are pretty clear-cut and logical terms. C - communication: what a widely used phenomenon, and although we have been evolving with it and using it for ages, centuries, we still don´t seem to get it 100% right. Allow me to use this analogy:</p>
<p>Imagine you are thirsty. You ask your partner for "something to drink"... and so your partner, being a good and caring person trots off to fetch you a glass of ice cold orange juice, thinking it is healthy, cold, refreshing and all the good things from nature. Mmm, orange juice is not exactly what you wanted, so you push it aside with a polite "no thank you" and a smile. With a bit of disappointment and a sigh your partner trots off to the kitchen again and weighing up the options makes you a cup of tea...the very same scene plays off yet again: you didn´t want tea either. The scene repeats itself again with your partner walking to the kitchen, blah blah blah, and you not being satisfied with what s/he offers you. Eventually it becomes a debate and later a fight about how well you know each other and before long tempers flare ending in a break-up in the worst cases. </p>
<p>How do you rectify this? You DON´T! You prevent it. What would you do to prevent the unnecessary waste of time and frustration your partner had to go through in walking to and from the kitchen not knowing what you want. What would you do to prevent your own frustration and disappointment of your partner not knowing what you need. What would you do as the partner to prevent such a situation. It´s so simple. Just be specific or ask from the very beginning. If you want a glass of cold water with three blocks of ice in it, say so. Say what you mean and mean what you say.</p>
<p>Moral of the story? We just don´t get it - CUP seems to mean: (C) - We´re just not going to be specific enough in business and we also won´t talk openly enough. (U) - Everything must be done yesterday when it suits you and also totally the opposite when it suits you, of course. (P) - Ego is the most important thing to protect...forget about the possible ongoing business, forget about choosing happiness and a great working environment over being right. Come now, we all want to make and save money just as we all want to win the Olympic Games.</p>
<p>Imagine how many issues in the corporate world can be solved and prevented by not only being aware of the CUP you are served or serving, but by actually doing something about it. Hey, when you sweep the dirt under the carpet it´s not gone...just hidden and still filthy with the potential to grow worse with time and humidity and...let´s just say it can become a damn disgusting and unhealthy sight. The key is progressive thinking and being specific in what you expect, staying cool, and all the other clichés of modern business. We all know these things, but we all also know that words without actions are a total waste of time. </p>
<hr>
<p>Lehan Stemmet is one of those rare people who studies one thing and ends up doing something else. As a biochemist who also studied psychology and industrial psychology, and who has experience in most industries after having been exposed to the world of politics, import-export, science, casinos, you name it, he took on the world of marketing to become national manager of operations for a sales and marketing company, and currently he owns his own business called DWI Consulting, does motivational and empowerment talks and enjoys the African outdoors with his lovely wife. Lehan has written numerous emotional empowerment and business-related articles and training material. His first book, <i>Deal With It - emotional empowerment</i> was published in the USA.</p>
<p> </p>
