Compliance - or the belief in the right attitude
from the ‘Serve & Return’ series
Published in: DiALOG - THE MAGAZINE FOR ENTERPRISE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT | 2020
Dear Mr Liduda,
for many years, you have been a man of clear words and have dedicated yourself to the topic of decency and values, codes of conduct and regulations. Yes, I know, as an expert you call it ‘compliance’, of course.
Even when we first met years ago, you were bursting with ideas and visions. Your enthusiasm and drive for the upcoming changes were particularly convincing, or should I say, especially because of the current situation of compliance and decency culture in companies, the brutalisation of language and customs, the decline in communication quality, and emotional competence in general. You have been responsible for this role in a global company for many years.
Now you have given YOUR ‘change process’ a real boost. You have changed sides and taken on the role of protagonists, trendsetters and preachers or even wave riders on the digital wave that is pushing the rise of artificial intelligence to supremacy over humans. STOP - or is that not you?
You are putting yourself at the service of the preservation and creation of historically valuable norms and rules, new German compliance. ‘Courageous!’ - where others duck away, look the other way and wait .... for whom? No, you find clear words. Whether in the introduction of compliance management systems as an accompanying consultant or as an interim expert in setting up organisations in areas such as data protection, legal and compliance.
With you, there is no ‘muddling through’, no ‘piecemeal work’, you call it digital strategy. You are at your best when it comes to guiding people and organisations along the path of normative, identification and compliance, steering them correctly and finding the right path. So ‘from person to person’. With personality, with legal advice, but above all with GMV - common sense.
That makes you likeable in my eyes and makes me boldly ask: ‘Do you take your vigour, your energy from your many years of successful compliance consulting? Or is it a mixture of passion, emotional expertise and personal commitment? Half the world is talking about artificial intelligence, thousands of fields of activity are disappearing, jobs are disappearing, Generation Y and Z love the work-life balance more than ever before. So where do you get your courage and motivation to put people at the centre of your digital transformation activities? You can only burn yourself out in the process, can't you?’
Dear Mr Libuda, we expect your return by return. Possibly with a hard-hitting spin that encourages us to follow you without compromise. Or, you could return with a buttery-soft slice, something to make us think and rethink, so far-sighted, but not cautious, but well-placed.
I look forward to the next (exchange of) words, entirely in the (DiALOG) sense, and I am already very much obliged to you.
Your fan Steffen Schaar
Dear Mr Schaar,
Oh, as a former recreational tennis player, I get all nostalgic when I hear the serve, return, spin and slice. I spent many hours with great people on and off the court. Sometimes I lost. Sometimes won. Showed emotions during good and bad actions. Made mistakes. Practised! Practised playing together. Experienced and exemplified fair behaviour. Sport teaches all participants so much about compliance.
Rules and fair play are the basis for every sport. That's kind of obvious. ‘Compliance’, on the other hand, is a strange buzzword with a negative connotation. Is compliance a less popular defence sport? I don't think so. Whether you're a player or a spectator, the basic understanding in sport and in business should be very similar. Be fair to each other. Behave decently. Be a role model. React correctly. And just do it.
Sport has taught me a few things for my job. But my many years working in a large, medium-sized company also taught me a lot. What is it like to be an entrepreneur? I was able to develop my legal and compliance issues as an ‘entrepreneur within the company’. Promoting the right behaviour with freedom, courage and conviction. My work in a great company with great people gave me the roots for freelance self-employment. I am grateful for that!
You ask me if I want to ride the digital wave? Or be a preacher after all? More like a preacher! I have faith in a certain belief. In times when the belief in material well-being and AI, AI, LegalTech, TechTechTech etc. threatens to destroy social cohesion, I am convinced that good compliance in companies can only succeed with credible, authentic and sustainable communication. Compliance is such a belief system. It defines an identity, creates a sense of belonging to a community and commits to its values. Clear and binding beliefs - known as a code of conduct - unite individuals in a community. But they can also divide. For me, communicating the right attitude and strengthening the community is the task of compliance as a conviction of faith. That's what I'm passionate about!
Do I believe that a good app makes good compliance? Has it never been so easy to become compliant? 1. download the app. 2. anyone can now configure it. 3. share. And the perfect solution is ready. Digital transformation made fun. Smart. Fast. Super-affordable. A dream? Yes, a dream! There's no question that certain content fundamentals are a MUST. Excellent products facilitate the work of the individual and especially collaboration. However, I believe that without people and the right attitude, standards and tools do not create any real added value. The right technology and the right attitude are the basis for good team spirit and entrepreneurial success. I believe in that!
Phew, was that a tough topspin return or a buttery smooth slice? Dear Mr Schaar, I'll leave that judgement to you. Let's always be decent. Let's have fun playing with fair rules that everyone understands and is convinced of. The rules are out of date, no longer up to date? Never mind! Let's help to adapt them. Is someone disregarding the rules and thus the values of the community? Let's ask, let's listen. Decide with GMV. And then act consistently.
Dear Mr Schaar, I'm looking forward to the next match! To analogue and digital challenges that we simply solve excellently. With the right attitude, we will succeed. I am convinced of that!
Yours, Dirk Libuda