In this episode of "All Things Conflict," Maria welcomes back her friend and philosopher Paul Baker to explore the intricacies of startups and entrepreneurship. They delve into the importance of establishing a solid foundation for new ventures, emphasizing the need for clear goals, effective communication, and conflict resolution strategies. Maria and Paul discuss the significance of understanding the motivations behind entrepreneurial pursuits, whether driven by fear or a desire to create positive change. They also highlight the necessity of systemic awareness and the value of nurturing existing resources while innovating for the future. The conversation culminates in an invitation for listeners to engage with them, seeking guidance on their entrepreneurial journeys.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. 
   

   Importance of Planning and Feedback: Establishing a clear plan and understanding how to gauge progress is crucial for startups. It's essential to have a way to assess whether the project is on track or needs adjustments, akin to having a compass and barometer for navigation.

   
   


2. 
   

   Systemic Awareness: Entrepreneurs should cultivate an awareness of the various systems at play, including their own capabilities, the dynamics of their team, and the broader context in which they operate. This holistic view helps in anticipating challenges and leveraging opportunities.

   
   


3. 
   

   Conflict Management: Startups should proactively establish agreements and processes for conflict resolution. By anticipating potential disputes and creating systems to address them, teams can emerge stronger and more cohesive after conflicts.

   
   


4. 
   

   Value of Purpose: Understanding the deeper motivations behind business goals is vital. Entrepreneurs should explore not just what they want to achieve (e.g., making money) but also why those goals matter to them personally and how they align with their values.

   
   


5. 
   

   Sustainability and Nurturing Relationships: It's important to focus on preserving and nurturing existing resources, including team dynamics and relationships. A successful enterprise should balance innovation with the care of its foundational elements to ensure long-term sustainability.

   
   

BEST MOMENTS

1. 
   

   "The main thing for me is how do we actually make really good use of the situation we're in, which may be wonderfully abundant and creative and it may be a complete catastrophe." - Paul Baker

   
   


2. 
   

   "What is the system that we need to put in place to ensure that when we come out the other side of it, we're better off?" - Maria Arpa

   
   


3. 
   

   "If we use this as a weather analogy... if it's pouring with rains and it's a gale... the map's not going to work so well." - Paul Baker

   
   


4. 
   

   "The last thing I want is to invest my money in a group of people for whom I can't tell if they're going to start fighting each other later on." - Maria Arpa

   
   


5. 
   

   "We really need to be aware of which game we're playing because you don't want to hang around in a negative sum game where there's less and less for everyone." - Paul Baker

   
   

SOCIAL LINKS

www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org

www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk

www.workplacehuddle.com

HOST BIO

Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).  

Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/