Red Hot News

The following is a media release issued on November 7th, 2011 by Antony D. Inman of the Club Red International Coaching Institute:

Qantas Dispute Shows the Importance of Win-Win Strategies

Qantas Planes Grounded by CEO

The recent shutdown of Australia’s iconic airline, where passengers were left stranded without warning, caused astonished reactions around the world at how industrial relations negotiations could go so wrong so quickly.

Business Coach and Mentor, Antony D Inman observed that the actions of Qantas CEO Alan Joyce will be a talking point for business schools and lecturers for many years to come and that Perth businesses could learn a great deal from this global story.

‘It was like a classic chess match where Mr Joyce’s strategy effectively forced the Australian Government to step in and expedite a solution’ said Mr Inman.

The dispute was actually about a variety of grievances, involving wages and work conditions between the Airline and three different unions: the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA).

In fairness to the pilots, their claim was not about pay, but about ensuring that only Qantas pilots would be allowed to fly Qantas planes, and the extent of their industrial action had been to not wear their caps and to make carefully and diplomatically worded announcements to passengers about the need to support Qantas pilots in light of their excellent safety record.

‘These were hardly the actions of militants!’ said Mr Inman.

Qantas are still statistically the safest airline in the world in terms of accidents or noteworthy incidents.

The other two unions, however had been ‘nibbling away at the toes of the airline giant’ by causing random work hold-ups that had caused costly delays in services.

Alan Joyce - Qantas CEO

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was worried though, that the Unions’ plans to continue being disruptive for months to come would effectively lead to the eventual demise of the company.

His response, however was a move that was described by the President of the Pilot’s Union (AIPA), Barry Jackson, as ‘holding the country to ransom’.

It was a move of which a world chess champion would have been proud. Alan Joyce sprung the decision to close down operations without warning, on an unsuspecting world.

This decision was announced a mere one day after the company’s shareholders had emphatically endorsed his authority at their A.G.M. with a significant and controversial pay rise. It also coincided with an event that itself traditionally ‘stops the nation’ – the world famous Melbourne Cup horse race.

If that wasn’t enough, Perth was also playing host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), opened by visiting royalty, Her Majesty the Queen.

HRM Queen Elizabeth & PM Julia Gillard

‘Imagine the embarrassment to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, if she wasn’t seen to act immediately to resolve a dispute that would inconvenience and possibly strand some of the world’s top dignitaries’, said Business Coach Mr Inman.

Many business commentators are saying that the decision to ground all Qantas aircraft and leave passengers floundering, was a huge risk that could significantly damage the reputation of the Airline and its brand, possibly irrepairably.

Mr Inman explained that he and his partner were on a long weekend jaunt in Melbourne when the newsflash hit the world headlines and they were left uncertain as to whether they would be able to return home as planned.

‘We were delighted when the tribunal at Fair Work Australia used their powers to force all parties to cease the dispute, get the planes back in the air and return to sensible negotiations’ he continued.

Tony Inman concluded that although this was an extreme and what you might call ‘landmark’ case, all businesses should realise the need to ensure that the needs of both company management and staff are always as aligned as possible.

‘In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, where many small and medium sized businesses have found the going tough, we need to ensure that our staff are kept informed about external pressures and the strategies by which the management plan to address those threats. We also need to be ethical and transparent in our consideration of the staff’s needs, while explaining clearly the impact on commercial viability of meeting their desired wages and conditions.’

‘That way, if we can find a win-win outcome, we can all keep our company flag flying’ said Mr Inman.

Club Red coaches business owners to be more effective, so that they can lead more fulfilling, less stressed and ultimately happier lives. Information is available from www.clubred.com.au or by calling 9328 2203.

Tony Inman has 32 years of management experience, mostly in retail, tourism, transport and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

Ends

Media release available as a PDF download.

Footnote

Jo and I returned to Perth on Qantas and their service was excellent as usual. I’m delighted to see them back in the air and I hope that compromise solutions can be found that will enable the airline to expand profitably into Asia, whilst maintaining as many Australian jobs as possible.

Steve Jobs - Apple Chairman

The following post was filed as a media release from the Club Red International Coaching Institute this week:
19th September, 2011
Perth Businesses can Learn from Apple’s Example

While business leaders around the world were shocked at the news that IT giant, Apple’s CEO and acknowledged ‘ideas man’, Steve Jobs had stepped down from his role recently, the situation provided a valuable lesson.
Perth business coach, Tony Inman, said that local business owners would do well to follow Apple’s example by being prepared for the possible loss of their greatest asset – themselves.
“It makes absolute sense to train a member of your team as your Deputy, even if only to cover you if you’re sick” said Mr Inman.

“We’ve seen that Steve Jobs has spent some years now grooming his replacement, and local businesses should be doing the same,” he said.
“In order to be truly successful, business owners must start with the end-game in mind.”
“Business owners and managers who don’t trust their people enough to train them for that extra responsibility actually only succeed in making their own job harder.¨

“But we coach them on the importance of effective delegation and succession planning.¨
“Let’s be honest here – a lot of bosses are afraid of delegating to someone who might do a better job than they do.¨
Mr Inman said there was no better feeling than taking a holiday, knowing that your staff were making your business make you money, and enjoying doing so, while you were away.
He called on all businesses to consider their own succession planning in light of the Apple situation.
He said delegation and evolution of responsibility provided businesses with many benefits including:

 

• A more empowered and valued team

• Higher staff morale and retention rates

• Freedom for the boss to work on the business more, instead of in it

• The flexibility to re-invent the business if it is threatened with a crisis, even that of losing its boss

 

Mr Inman noted that Apple had groomed Steve Jobs’ replacement, Tim Cook, knowing that their ailing CEO was battling cancer, so the business could carry on, not only as usual, but also able to deal with even more technological advances.
“So many business owners never even consider this aspect of their long term future, but it can be so important.¨
“Every successful business, no matter how large or small should have a succession plan.¨
Club Red coaches business owners to be more effective, so that they can lead more fulfilling, less stressed and ultimately happier lives. Information is available from http://www.clubred.com.au

Tony Inman - CEO

Tony Inman has 32 years of management experience, mostly in retail, tourism and coaching, of which over 15 have been spent running his own businesses here in Perth.

He is also a business mentor at Curtin University’s Entrepreneurship Unit.