Lesson 2: When Failure Isn't An Option: Always have a plan b

Thursday, 12^th June 2008 ... anyone?
I guess this particular date will not ring any bells with many readers. However, some Europeans held their breath on that particular day, biting their fingernails, staring at an island in the Northwest of Europe. Any idea?

Picture: Veronica Fragoso Flores

Failure? What is this supposed to mean?

People in Ireland may remember voting on the "Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland Bill" on that day - and many Europeans may remember the ensuing hectic as European leaders scrambled to limit the after-effects. However, it wasn't so much what happened after the Irish voted against the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon (with 53% of the voters against and 46% in favour) that shocked me, it was what didn't happen before Ireland said "No".

Let's take a few steps back and look at the events leading up to the Irish referendum. (I am not an expert in politics or in history - I am just trying to make a point here, so please excuse occasional, i.e. constant, simplification.)

After the original "European Constitution" was binned rather violently having been voted down in referendums in the Netherlands and France in 2005, a series of meetings of European leaders took place two years later, resulting in the signing of the so-called "Treaty of Lisbon" in December 2007. However, a treaty of such magnitude had to be ratified by all twenty-seven member states, and this included - due to its constitution - a referendum in Ireland. And it is precisely at this point that the screw-up happened. Big time.
I guess you can already spot it.
Right now.
Look again.
The key word being "referendum".
I can actually visualise all the European hot-shots in a meeting room in Lisbon in December 2007, having hammered out the final details of the treaty and its ratification process, already packing for their flights home, when somebody – probably in the back of the room – stood up and asked the question of questions: "Erm, excuse me, but what happens if the Irish vote against it?" Again, I can only guess, but I believe that person suddenly faced a couple of heavy books and cell phones thrown in his or her direction. And the question was dropped.

In other words: there wasn’t a "plan B".

The Treaty of Lisbon was supposed to be of huge importance for our European future, and they didn’t prepare a backup option. There was no provision made in case the Irish vote went belly-up. And that is what I call a screw-up. King-sized.
Whenever you plan something of medium to huge importance in advance, be it a holiday, your choice of university, your PhD thesis' subject, or future employer, please do make sure you have a "plan B" thought out, a viable and good alternative should something not go exactly as planned. Especially if - like the Treaty of Lisbon - that particular future project includes many influencing factors out of your direct control. The less control you have, the more important it will be to have a backup plan.

jan onno reiners, PHD Jan Onno Reiners works as executive coach, trainer and keynote speaker in Berlin. His background includes a PhD in biotechnology, seven years of strategic management consulting and improvisation theatre. Find out more about him and his work on www.jorhd.com.

Yes, you will probably spend more time and energy on your planning, however, it will become more realistic, you will end up better prepared and even more relaxed when you have a "best alternative" in store.

The concept of a "plan B" is quite common: In the field of professional negotiations, there is the "best alternative to negotiated agreement" - and one should never enter any negotiation without first figuring out one's BATNA. Sometimes the "plan B" is simply "more of plan A" for backup - a concept called redundancy found in technology (e.g. data storage, aircraft systems) and nature (e.g. paired organs). Even written language doesn't simply rely on the letters' order alone: tihs aslo is rednudnacy.
As Louis Pasteur put it: "Luck favours the prepared mind" - and I guess preparation should always include a viable "plan B".
Unless you work in European politics, it seems.

Have a nice day!

Recommended reading:

"Getting to Yes" (R. Fisher, W. Ury)

"Getting Past No" (W. Ury)