Where to Now?

Leadership is the ability to influence others. In terms of collaboration, it is enhancing the growth, skills, and performance of others, regardless of status, position, or title. The emphasis is on horizontal structure and operation. Respect, in terms of leadership, is reflected by competence, continuous learning, and performance, not presumed title.

A short time ago, I brought together two of my closest business associates and friends. We met to consider how we might establish a closer business relationship. Everything went fine until we began to discuss money. Then a whole new dynamic set in--scarcity. At first, we didn't recognize the increased emotion and level of intensity that had set into our conversation. Then someone said, is 20% or 15% that big of a deal compared to what we can create together? What is the issue we are dealing with?

What we concluded is that we were operating as a collection of individuals in a cooperative way. We were still trying to work our way to establishing a "consciousness of collaboration." The contents of the agreement was NOT the problem. The context of looking for the best interest of each other in terms of the value of each of our contributions was the real life process we were engaged in. It's a funny thing about collaboration, the more you think about the well-being and value-added of others, the more you get a greater share than what you could bargain for! This is a leap of faith in your willingness to collaborate.

Those of us who are really interested in collaboration will lead by a willingness to risk. After all, collaboration does not come naturally to a strongly individualistic society like the U.S. On the other hand, Eastern societies will be equally challenged by integrating individualistic performance with their natural inclination to collaborate. What I am saying here is that although collaboration will dominate the business landscape, individual performance will still be the intiating force to create, innovate, and produce breakthrough products and services.

Leadership, within this context, is the willingness to influence the transformation of others in creating a "collaborative mentality." Once this mentality is established, the rest is detail!

Bill

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