Swordcraft: Difference between revisions

From The Jolly Contrarian
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "{{a|negotiation|}}{{d|swordcraft|/sɔːdkrɑːft/|Also “swordsmanship” (archaic)) (n|}} Adeptness with the tools, and enculturation in the ethics, of the great martial ar...")
 
No edit summary
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{a|negotiation|}}{{d|swordcraft|/sɔːdkrɑːft/|Also “swordsmanship” (archaic)) (n|}}
{{a|negotiation|{{image|Swordcraft|jpeg|Swordcraft at its finest.}}}}{{d|swordcraft|/sɔːdkrɑːft/|Also “swordsmanship” (archaic)) (n|}}


Adeptness with the tools, and enculturation in the ethics, of the great martial art of [[negotiation]].
Adeptness at the great martial art of [[negotiation]]. Swordcraft is the art of knowing when to call, when to dig in, when to let it go, when to make a joke, when to call bluff and, at the limit, when to walk away.  


Understand “[[swordcraft]],” here, as a technique in an [[infinite game]]. It does not manifest as outright hostile behaviour — that would be ''gun''craft: that has no place in a [[negotiation]], unless you are ending it — rather swordcraft is a technical, impressive and beautiful but above all ''constructive'' ''dance'': a theatrical demonstration of skill, balance, movement and technique intended not to win but to convey excellence: subject-matter expertise, concern for one’s own position and [[Commercial imperative|commitment to the forthcoming partnership]].  
Understand “[[swordcraft]],” here, as a technique in an [[infinite game]]. It does not manifest as outright hostile behaviour — that would be ''gun''craft, and it has no place in a [[negotiation]] you not planning to end — rather, swordcraft is a technical, impressive and beautiful, but above all ''constructive'' ''dance'': a theatrical demonstration of skill, balance, movement and technique intended not to win, but to continue the game, by conveying ''excellence'': [[subject-matter expertise]], concern for one’s own position and [[Commercial imperative|commitment to the forthcoming partnership]].  


''Negotiation is a form of courtship ritual''.
''[[Negotiation]] is a form of courtship ritual''.
 
Note that while Swordcraft demands of its practitioners innate interpersonal skills, it is largely ''learned''. The most effortless charmer must put putting in the hours to do it: learning your subject matter, learning what matters and what doesn’t, practising situational application of [[Pragmatist’s prayer|serenity’s prayer]].
 
===Swordcraft and [[School-leavers from Bucharest]]===
Now we have few harsh words to say about those enthusiastic Romanians who populate call centres on the Black Sea and grind out our ISDAs. Their patience, their application, and their appetite for the stupefyingly dull is beyond reproach, but they do not, generally, have, or need, any sword-handling skills. What they do is not so much negotiation as ''onboarding'': a coordinated process of matching risk settings between organisations to get on and start trading. Once upon a time it was negotiation, but the process has, for better or worse, been deprecated.
 
 
{{sa}}
*[[Talk, don’t email]]
*[[Onboarding]]
*[[Negotiation]]
*[[Finite and infinite games]]

Latest revision as of 17:32, 3 December 2022

Negotiation Anatomy™

Swordcraft.jpeg
Swordcraft at its finest.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Requests? Insults? We’d love to 📧 hear from you.
Sign up for our newsletter.

swordcraft
/sɔːdkrɑːft/ (Also “swordsmanship” (archaic)) (n.)

Adeptness at the great martial art of negotiation. Swordcraft is the art of knowing when to call, when to dig in, when to let it go, when to make a joke, when to call bluff and, at the limit, when to walk away.

Understand “swordcraft,” here, as a technique in an infinite game. It does not manifest as outright hostile behaviour — that would be guncraft, and it has no place in a negotiation you not planning to end — rather, swordcraft is a technical, impressive and beautiful, but above all constructive dance: a theatrical demonstration of skill, balance, movement and technique intended not to win, but to continue the game, by conveying excellence: subject-matter expertise, concern for one’s own position and commitment to the forthcoming partnership.

Negotiation is a form of courtship ritual.

Note that while Swordcraft demands of its practitioners innate interpersonal skills, it is largely learned. The most effortless charmer must put putting in the hours to do it: learning your subject matter, learning what matters and what doesn’t, practising situational application of serenity’s prayer.

Swordcraft and School-leavers from Bucharest

Now we have few harsh words to say about those enthusiastic Romanians who populate call centres on the Black Sea and grind out our ISDAs. Their patience, their application, and their appetite for the stupefyingly dull is beyond reproach, but they do not, generally, have, or need, any sword-handling skills. What they do is not so much negotiation as onboarding: a coordinated process of matching risk settings between organisations to get on and start trading. Once upon a time it was negotiation, but the process has, for better or worse, been deprecated.


See also