Financial Times

Business Leaders - need to help not show off!
The national calamity of 26th December 2004 morning, has probably changed forever the old order that prevailed amongst Sri Lankans for over 50 years. The boxing day in ole Britain, it is believed that those who celebrated X'mas the previous day beyond their means and their limit of intake of alcohol are either engaged this day in fighting with their mates or selling the empty alcohol bottles to raise money to finance the quota of drinks for the day.

It must surely have been different amongst the business leaders in Sri Lanka. They were probably on holiday, at Sunday morning church service or sleeping late to overcome the after effects of the celebrations the night before. However united, quickly and with emotion all got down to the challenge of the moment.

The outpouring of grief, emotion, loving kindness and care for the affected victims seen that day and after amongst all Sri Lankans has never been seen before.

There was one nation, one people, with one aim and purpose, all in a hurry to help the unfortunate victims irrespective of nationality, religious beliefs, caste and status. Wise Old Owl was even surprised by the spontaneous reaction and the generosity of all Sri Lankans, especially the business sector leaders. Their quick response time to issues, relief and offer of solidarity with the nations affected was unique and significantly positive.

All Sri Lankans including the business leaders need to be saluted and recognized for this unparalleled display. The time has now come for this oneness and one purpose to be leveraged to build a new paradigm of collective action placing the nation and its people in the forefront of al future objectives, strategies and action plans.

As for the business sector can we see some new paradigms firstly of non competition, with closer networking amongst Chambers and business associations and not continuously asking the government for handouts (Wise Old Owl did not see a request for a longer time to pay back taxes - another concession in the midst of this crises for those failing to comply with a competitive advantage over those in compliance). Can we stop engaging in what The Sunday Times of last weekend called the "The I of the Tsunami", yet very much evident when business leaders meet, with each one competing to announce publicly and proudly what they have done already and can they also refrain from showing off their network links to the powerful and mighty. Can they also stop theorizing and prophesizing without facts, information and data (very evident in recent days in planning the response action of the private sector)? Should not the private sector assess its capability and competency before kneeling before the command of the high and mighty and accept challenges for which they are ill equipped? Will the private sector stop competing amongst themselves in supporting a cause and evaluate options for collective resource mobilization and deployment? Can they not in this national crises approach issues and challenges the same way they do in running their businesses? Should not the challenges of Sri Lanka Inc, the biggest company in the island, be dealt with adopting the strategic planning and implementation skills of the private sector. Should they not look for the best option before action, allocate scarce resources to optimize results, implement seeking optimum economy, efficiency and effectiveness and always have contingency plans having evaluated risks with even a disaster recovery plan if things go really wrong.

A few more new paradigm options can come with business celebrations, where until the nation is fully recovered they agree that there will be no tamashas, cocktail parties and gala events to launch, welcome and bid goodbye.

Can we stop sending cards and gifts for celebrated events like weddings, anniversaries and also in celebrating seasonal events and donate the costs to support the unfortunate? Should we not use our marketing skills to help the fund raising for charity on the principles of "cause marketing"? Can we not support the re-settlement and rehabilitation of victims by distributing products and services made by them? For instance, can we engage some women victims and get them to collect seashells from tsunami-affected beach areas to make jewellery and handicrafts and market such produce with a charity price premium? Can we not use the debris and fallen trees to make furniture and handicrafts and give it a premium price for charity? Private sector you can surely do all this and more.

So let us resolve, as we now advance two weeks from D Day, to set new paradigms for ourselves, our business, our chambers and the nation at large and let us follow up our emotions, commitment and generosity with a new set of values in practice.

(The writer, a respected business leader, could be reached at - wo_owl@yahoo.co.uk)

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