| Shirley Sherrod was caught in a racial firestorm, | | | | later proven to be wrong, be 'big enough' to admit |
| partially because she's Black, and partially because | | | | your mistake sooner than later, and apologize |
| race relations are exploited by some people in the | | | | quickly, to the person, or those that you've |
| U.S. when negotiating. In the case of Shirley | | | | impugned. |
| Sherrod, she was an innocent bystander, | | | | 3. With reverse racism being such a 'touchy point' |
| slandered. | | | | of contention for some people in the U.S., there's |
| Twenty-four years ago, Shirley Sherrod's job was | | | | a faction in the country that will seek to exploit |
| to assist farmers in securing services that would | | | | race, anytime they have the opportunity. When |
| lead to avoiding foreclosure on their farms. During | | | | you negotiate, be aware of this fact. |
| that time, Shirley Sherrod made a presentation to | | | | 4. Anyone can be portrayed as a 'Shirley Sherrod'. |
| an organization. In her presentation, she related a | | | | Therefore, no matter where you are and what |
| story of her encounter with a particular white | | | | you do, even when you don't consider yourself as |
| farmer that was condescending to her. She | | | | such, remember, you're always negotiating. |
| stated, initially she was not going to lend her 'full' | | | | Where race relations are concerned in |
| effort to assisting this farmer, but after reflecting | | | | negotiations, there'll be many 'teachable moments', |
| upon her negative thoughts, she decided to assist | | | | from which to learn. As you encounter negotiation |
| him with her full support, anyway. She did so, | | | | situations in life, related to race, take note and |
| because she realized the need for assistance | | | | learn from them. In so doing, you'll find that you'll |
| comes in all colors and in all ethnicities. Moreover, | | | | become more knowledgeable and informed about |
| she reflected, it was the right thing to do. | | | | the way others think... and everything will be right |
| That was the message she conveyed to the | | | | with the world. Always remember, you're always |
| audience. What Shirley Sherrod didn't count on | | | | negotiating. |
| was the fact that her information and eventual | | | | The Negotiation Tips Are... |
| good thoughts and name would be turned against | | | | · No matter what your vocation, you're always |
| her, twenty-four years after she made her | | | | selling and marketing yourself. In so doing, when |
| presentation. She forgot, "you're always | | | | negotiating, understand the environment you're in |
| negotiating'. | | | | and the manner in which others might process |
| Shirley Sherrod's character was one of assisting | | | | information about you. Consider the role race may |
| her fellow man. When you understand someone's | | | | play in their decision making process. |
| character, you can negotiate with them based on | | | | · Even when people within one race negotiate |
| their character. By understanding their character, | | | | with others of the same race, race matters. It |
| you have an understanding as to how they're | | | | matters, because there'll be segments in the race |
| likely to react in certain situations. In Shirley | | | | that distinguish itself from other segments and |
| Sherrod's situation, once her character was | | | | thus will react differently to different thoughts, |
| explored, it was discovered that she'd worked | | | | suggestions, and ideas. So, in order to achieve |
| ceaselessly to assist people of all ethnicities. | | | | successful outcomes to negotiations, you have to |
| Had the rush to judge Shirley Sherrod not been | | | | understand the source of motivation required to |
| done in such haste, by everyone involved (White | | | | 'move that person to action'. Don't assume he's |
| House, NAACP, U.S. Agriculture Department, the | | | | like everyone else in the race and apply a broad |
| U.S. Media), not to say anything about those that | | | | stroke to him in applying your negotiation |
| initiated the victimization, it would have been | | | | strategies and tactics. |
| discovered that she possessed a low likelihood of | | | | · When negotiating, don't be too quick to judge |
| committing such accused acts. | | | | someone when exploring accounts of their past |
| What 'teachable moments' are rooted in this | | | | behavior, good or bad. Gather the appropriate |
| situation? | | | | information, consider the source of the |
| 1. Never be too quick to accept information as | | | | information and vet the information before |
| pure fact and acting upon it, without proper | | | | attempting to provide solutions to correct it. Don't |
| vetting. | | | | be made to appear foolish due to haste. |
| 2. If you're quick to 'rush to judgment' and you're | | | | To see video, click link below. |