In his TEDx talk, Stefano Baldi explains how being a diplomat today is a mix of tradition and innovation. In the era of web 2.0, currently characterized by Social Media, diplomats are challenged by constantly evolving ways of communication. He argues why an adequate and continuous training will empower the diplomat of the XXI century, the Diplomat 2.0, to be still an essential and irreplaceable resource for the country he/she represents.
Stefano Baldi is an Italian career diplomat with a lifelong commitment to innovation and creativity applied to diplomatic activities. Now that he is the head of the Training structure of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is particularly engaged in emphasizing and experimenting with shaping the role of the XXI century diplomat.
A fantastic presentation by a Great Leader. I especially liked two particular elements of the talk; the explanation about Diplomats and NIMBY. I now have something to show people to help explain what Diplomacy is about; there are so many people who really don’t have a clue.
Here are a couple of amusing anecdotes of what I mean. Both events happened during my first week in one of my old postings. I’ll [diplomatically] avoid mentioning the country so as not to offend anyone.
The first story happened on our arrival; trying to fast track through the VIP/Diplomatic customs checkpoint. We were stopped and asked what we were doing in the country? I explained about the posting, showed our credentials and special passports. I was then asked what my role in the Consulate was? Again, I explained and was told that my explanation was too generic. We were red-carded and detained for the better part of twenty minutes. We were later given the green light to proceed with the excuse that the customs official was new and hadn’t come across this kind of situation before. Whatever happened to job training? Methinks they are in desperate need of an ISDI equivalent. 🙂
The second story is even worse and regards a taxi ride. I gave the driver the Consulate address as the destination. At the first red stop light, the driver turned around and asked if that is where I work? I acknowledged and he replied…”Oh, does that mean you carry a gun?”.
I thought he was joking so I replied…”Well, if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you…I’m just not sure if I’ll kill you with the desk stapler or stab you with my Mont Blanc.” The driver turned pale and was not laughing. At that point I realized his question was serious. Perhaps my heavy British accent made him think I was James Bond or something. 😉
Back to Stefano’s Ted Talk. I really liked the NIMBY part of the presentation as it got me thinking about training. Even when people can’t take part in formal training sessions, the fact remains that training is an ongoing thing as you actually do the work. We learn constantly, even during cocktail parties as Stefano pointed out. The problem lies in something I will call GOMBY [Get Out of My Back Yard]. On-the-job training can be very effective but not when the keeper of information jealously guards that knowledge as if it were the family jewels. It angers me when people hold back information that would be beneficial to the growth of new talent, especially colleagues in the same office. Sometimes it can be simply a problem of timing and teaching others would slow down the task at hand. Yet, most of the time it is because people think that keeping their work secret will help protect them from being fired or that it can be the only way to gain promotions and fringe benefits. When I see these situations I think that it’s a sad world we live in. :/
Anyway, thanks again for the concise, informative and amusing presentation…Great work.
The idea of GOMBY is great! Thank you, Enzo, for mentioning it. Unfortunately the GOMBY approach is more frequent than we all realize. That is why it is particularly important to spread and promote the culture of sharing (rather than holding) the knowledge, in any possibile way.
Minister Baldi is absolutely right.
communication is the essence of diplomacy. there has never been a great diplomat, who was a poor communicator ..
the relationship between diplomacy, that is a paradigm of discretion and balance, and the Web, a symbol of openness and participation, is a fascinating phenomenon of communication, which, after beginning in the United States, now involves different countries and gives rise to a kind of an online risiko where the ultimate goal is not the conquest of the territory, but international public opinion.
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