Careers in Conflict Transformation and professional peaceworking: Business competencies

 Business competencies

The list of technical skills that will be helpful or even necessary to succeed in the soft power world of Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies (CTPS) is virtually infinite, especially if you are part of a small organization or even working for yourself--huge organizations tend to drive workers into a more specialized, narrower band of competencies to maximalize efficiency and productivity. Of course, in those large organizations--government, corporate, institutional, or nonprofit--your CTPS skills matter substantially as well, because a mass of specialists can be disjointed, dysregulated, and dysfunctional if the moving parts are not in sync or generating relational friction rather than constructive, creative problem-solving. 

The deep theoretical knowledge of CTPS enables the emergent student-into-worker to create solutions to unanticipated or new and novel problems. Carrying that theory of principled negotiation into each human interaction may require self-talk and "going to the balcony" sessions, but the theory not only works when studiously applied to real presenting problems, ignoring the theory can, at times, prove its worth by the cascade of negative outcomes that might have been avoided by being intentional about it.[1]

Perhaps you learn to start a nonprofit--even a good autodidact can achieve that. Yes, perhaps you took a class that taught you the basics, or, for some who focused on more CTPS-specific courses, perhaps you didn't. You have a concept, not too much funding, and you can always spend a bit of time on YouTube,[2] checking out helpful advice from others who, it is hoped, actually know what they are doing. While it may feel like a poor use of your time to surf the random YouTube content, it can provide you with a start point. Then, like we all do, simply Google it for even more help[3] in planning how you can actually do the business of creating a nonprofit. As with any random online search, caveat emptor. Some consulting services can be scams. Yes, you can hedge your bets a bit by seeing if the service you've found has generated reviews,[4] and what those reviewers have to say, before you hand over the few funds you have.

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[1] This happened to me, a professor and practitioner in the field, when, after years of co-living with others in my home, I rented a room to an alcoholic who immediately began acting out in very destructive ways too grotesque to enumerate. When he did so around my disabled son, I lost it and a legal battle began. I should have accepted a court-offered mediation but I was so dysfunctionally angry I hired a lawyer. The one I hired was simply not as effective as the one my renter hired. I lost many $thousands rather than a few $hundred. After, I realized I was like the doctor who refused offered medical care and paid the price. It taught me many lessons, including a tendency to point out to others who are in the throes of an amygdala hijack that the prices and consequences can be prohibitive; it is a friendly act to intervene on another in that state. Our learning is only of value if we employ it.

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFu6Ptclq_E

[3] https://bizee.com/form/start-a-nonprofit?utm_term=how%20to%20start%20a%20nonprofit&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7525761879&hsa_cam=21909533501&hsa_grp=172070434524&hsa_ad=721401410623&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-1235493845&hsa_kw=how%20to%20start%20a%20nonprofit&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21909533501&gbraid=0AAAAAD_aQeb7pihRhCJC6-mnQS8u0Jm2z&gclid=Cj0KCQiApfjKBhC0ARIsAMiR_ItNnImK_WwZJyZ1Lm5eXXkbOmgmdeMeIn9OT1Ilzhp0avuz5kMMQJAaAsJAEALw_wcB

[4] https://www.yelp.com/not_recommended_reviews/narwhal-law-and-business-strategy-portland-2