Collaboration not power games
Have to say I am chuffed to read that the European Commission have finally agreed to open the negotiations on the SPS agreement. For our sector it could mean the end of the barking mad rules and regs over import/exporting of flowers, plants et al. In fact, if they were so minded, they could be suspended*1 pretty darned quickly.
I confess I am also majorly impressed by the work of Jennifer Pheasey and Sylvie Mamias of HTA and Union Fleurs respectively. Two people who, often unseen, have been patient and persistence in lobbying the right people, in the right way and with the right intentions and purposely joined forces to achieve the best results.
Which seems a real rarity in our fragmented but oh so interconnected industry – something alluded to by Matt Appleby Editor of Hort Week in one of his podcasts recently.
Because whilst some people get the real concept of collaboration – i.e. genuinely working together to achieve common goals and outcomes and then share the results under joint names - others seem more interested in either transactional arrangements (i.e. I’ll do that but only if you give me this), working alone and secretively or only acting in their own interests to claim position, power, and credit for achieving something.
And that is a real shame.
Because not only are we are far too small an industry for internal fighting, game playing or point scoring, but fact is no single company, or association can ever be everything to everyone any more than Florist Magazine can cover every single story or reach every single person in the industry*2.
From an Association perspective it may be led by the fact they are all reliant on membership money and in a challenging market they need to make their offering look the best. But the truth is they are far more likely to achieve greater respect - and ergo members - by being seen to be collaborative and achieving something positive.
Which is why I wish everyone would get their heads around the fact that real collaboration is not losing face but quite possibly the best way to help our industry … particularly the all-important independent retail sector who need it the most. Realise that by giving up a little, it could actually achieve a whole lot more.
As someone who has spent her life working with everyone, I know it can be tough and don’t get me wrong … I would LOVE to be everything to everyone. But truth is I can’t … no one can.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses … the clever people are the ones who acknowledge that and find a way to harness it into one place or at least find a civilised way of working with others.
1: Easement would mean an immediate lifting of extensive inspections … many of which are a waste of time as the statistics show the percentage of ‘failed’ inspections is tiny … somewhere in the region of 3%. Obviously suspending/stopping would mean a lot of companies will have wasted a lot of money implementing the draconian rules and that will never be got back plus there is the question mark over the infrastructure put in place for inspections and which have not been fit for purpose and would be obsolete. However, the ongoing benefits should and could outweigh this plus we simply cannot go on as we are. The damage the current system has caused is massive.
2: Yes, I’m very good and yes, we have one of the biggest and most engaged followings, but I would never claim to be the only route to market ... I'm not that big a showoff!
