Diplomacy is the art of communicating with people from other cultures. It involves building trust, respect and meaningful connections. It requires an understanding of how to express yourself in ways that don’t hurt, offend or cause others to react negatively. Diplomatic skills are critical for advancing into senior leadership roles.
Diplomats, aka diplomatists, are the primary–but far from the only–practitioners of this ancient and vital art. They specialize in carrying messages, negotiating adjustments in relations and resolving quarrels between states or other organizations. They use their weapons primarily in the form of words, backed by the power of the state or organization they represent.
In a sense, the art of diplomacy has evolved and diversified through the centuries as war, terrorism, and new technology have shaped international systems, requiring states to work together more often and in increasingly complicated ways. Historically, larger states would send ambassadors and envoys, while smaller countries might appoint chargés d’affaires or ministers plenipotentiary. The latter were essentially intermediaries who could function in any diplomatic mission, whereas an ambassador was the head of mission.
Today’s challenges require a deep understanding of foreign policy and the ability to build relationships across cultural boundaries. A high level of intelligence is needed to recognise the right solution and the courage to implement it, as demonstrated by the likes of George HW Bush and Jim Baker in working with Anwar Sadat or Henry Kissinger and Zhou Enlai on opening China.
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