Papież | Business English Magazine Blog

Pope John Paul II beatified – what can we learn from today?

maj 1st, 2011

Dear BEM Readers,

Whether you are religious or not, you can’t admit the fact that 1st May 2011 will be long remembered around the World, as the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Why? JPII has been a true visionary leader when it comes to church and spirituality. He emanated with wisdom, love and understanding. Whether he was speaking to the top World leaders, or a 6-year-old kid, he effortlessly built rapport with them. Even tough he has been physically gone from the lives of the believers and non-believers, he will remain in our hearts forever.

The work he has contributed to the modern World have not only reshaped our reality but also impacted on how countries communicate & understand each other. In this special time for Poland, with John Paul’s beatification, lifted work limitations for Polish citizens in Germany & Austria, the next year’s Euro 2012 football championships semi-finals and lastly the upcoming Polish presidency in the EU in July, there are dozens of takeaway lessons for the local government, businesses and education.

LESSON FOR BUSINESS:

John Paul promoted respect to one another – call it a „skill” or „ability” that is in a global decline; he was never biased based against race, religion, country origin or political views – that type of international dialogue is vitally important and virtually impossible in the global economy, saturated with hundreds of varying interests, viewpoints, value systems and business objectives.

Did you notice how endless companies try to adopt (or in many cases just announce) a specific „mission statement” or „value system”? It usually goes like this: „We are customer-focused, results driven and goal oriented”, right? BLA BLA BLA. We heard it all before.

How about: „We genuinely care about customers, as we are them ourselves. We think our products are great and will make sure to allow you to experience them.”

Don’t try to tell us you are something we clearly see you are not. Just be. Serve us well or get lost, we have hundreds just like you around the corner asking for our attention and money!

LESSONS FOR POLAND

Pope John Paul II was the highest quality ambassador the country could have asked for. We need his successors, quickly. Today, among being a very special festivity for the Christian church, it also brought all eyes on Poland. Due to a very unfortunate history Poland has been excluded from the World travel map for a few decades. It is over now and we seem to have a problem in shaking it off. If we don’t , no one will do it for us. The responsibility to promote and educate the rest of the World on our history, culture and language is up to us.

All the above mentioned events create a phenomenal opportunity for the Polish politics,businesses, tourism, however require a tremendous PR effort to bring an International visibility, recognition and appreciation.

Is it totally up to the citizens?

No, you won’t get paid for the time you invest in that promotion individually. But by nicely answering a simple question in English asked by a random foreigner: „Hi, can you tell me where can I find a good hostel?” you are doing the groundwork that matters!

The rest is up to the local government, politicians, PR specialists, advertising agencies, sport professionals, which is all out of our control until next election.

Let’s pray (to our individual Gods) that it will go the right way.

John Paul’s II message: „Don’t be afraid!” lives on…

Krzysztof „Chris” Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. a visionary – wizjoner

2. when it comes to – jeśli idzie o

3. to emanate – emanować

4. effortlessly – bez trudu, wysiłku

5. to build rapport – budować zrozumienie; komunikować się efektywnie

6. to remain – pozostawać

7. decline – spadek, zanik

8. vital – niezbędny