It’s a valid question, and I invite you to reflect on it with me, starting with this post.
One way we can look at it is through the lens of “sustainability.”
Most players in the cocoa industry show concern for doing business in a way that makes our environment safe. We’re proud to say it in our marketing. And we pay a lot for certifications to prove our business does not make Mama Earth sad.
This means(at least to me) we want the same good thing for the planet, regardless of our different sustainability metrics.
If that’s the case then, all of a sudden, we’ve become teammates who must win together.
A good coach, or team leader, would want to be sure his players understand one another. Each player must know the other’s uniqueness, so they find how to coordinate in a way that helps them win, or nail the project.
Cocoa has no coach. But if producers, chocolate makers, consumers, and everyone in between, are all on the team that wants to win the “sustainability trophy,” then we must sit together more often. To talk honestly as teammates who must leverage one another’s strength for success.
It’s not enough to know your teammate’s role. Understanding her execution approach is crucial. Only then can you work in harmony.
As I said, this is one way to look at the question. We’ll examine it differently next time.
Thank you for reading this. ❤️