- The document argues that companies must adopt a collaborative mindset in order to survive in today's fast-changing business environment, where new technologies and business models emerge rapidly. It asserts that viewing others with distrust and trying to do everything alone leaves companies unprepared and unable to progress or adapt.
- Collaboration requires defined trust between partners and a willingness to see value in working with others outside one's own organization. It can speed innovation, reduce costs, and lead to new ideas that no single company could achieve on its own.
- While consensus management seeks agreement and leads to mediocrity, collaboration combines strengths under leadership to create new and bold outcomes. Companies should proactively seek partners among competitors, suppliers, clients and
How To Fail: 25 Secrets Learned through FailureTaylor Davidson
25 Secrets Learned through Failure, by Taylor Davidson at Unstructured Ventures.
Visit the post on unstructuredventures.com/uv (short link to post: http://tinyurl.com/howtofail ) to add to the discussion, share your lessons learned from failure, and view more.
What Separates the Best From the Rest: What Makes Great Agencies GreatTim Williams
The truly great agencies share a set of principles and practices that distinguish them from the other 12,000 agencies in America and make them brands in demand.
#1 reason why start up fails is because they don’t validate their idea. And the secret of success behind any startup is to validate their product or services using positive feedback loop & other methods.
About three-quarters of the way through his new book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life (written with Charles Fishman), Brian Grazer hits the nail on the head. “This isn’t a science,” he says of the business of producing movies. “This is a creative business.” That pretty much describes any business, whether it’s making widgets or producing Apollo 13. Every business is the result of an original, creative innovation, and every business must innovate to sustain its hard-won success.
In survey after survey, business leaders say they want their companies to be more innovative. But companies aren’t innovative. People are. And this year’s best business books on strategy highlight two different approaches to developing the human capacity for innovation. In one, a Hollywood producer describes how curiosity made all the difference to his own life and career — and suggests that only curious leaders can build consistently innovative companies. In the other, two professors, Cass R. Sunstein and Reid Hastie, offer a more dispassionate approach informed by social science. A company’s ability to innovate, they argue in Wiser: Getting beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter, boils down to how well its leaders work together in a group setting. Both are compelling, and A Curious Mind is a real joy to read. But Wiser may be the more important book because so much of scaling and sustaining a company’s success depends on its leaders working well together. For this reason, it is my pick as the best business book of the year on strategy.
How To Fail: 25 Secrets Learned through FailureTaylor Davidson
25 Secrets Learned through Failure, by Taylor Davidson at Unstructured Ventures.
Visit the post on unstructuredventures.com/uv (short link to post: http://tinyurl.com/howtofail ) to add to the discussion, share your lessons learned from failure, and view more.
What Separates the Best From the Rest: What Makes Great Agencies GreatTim Williams
The truly great agencies share a set of principles and practices that distinguish them from the other 12,000 agencies in America and make them brands in demand.
#1 reason why start up fails is because they don’t validate their idea. And the secret of success behind any startup is to validate their product or services using positive feedback loop & other methods.
About three-quarters of the way through his new book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life (written with Charles Fishman), Brian Grazer hits the nail on the head. “This isn’t a science,” he says of the business of producing movies. “This is a creative business.” That pretty much describes any business, whether it’s making widgets or producing Apollo 13. Every business is the result of an original, creative innovation, and every business must innovate to sustain its hard-won success.
In survey after survey, business leaders say they want their companies to be more innovative. But companies aren’t innovative. People are. And this year’s best business books on strategy highlight two different approaches to developing the human capacity for innovation. In one, a Hollywood producer describes how curiosity made all the difference to his own life and career — and suggests that only curious leaders can build consistently innovative companies. In the other, two professors, Cass R. Sunstein and Reid Hastie, offer a more dispassionate approach informed by social science. A company’s ability to innovate, they argue in Wiser: Getting beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter, boils down to how well its leaders work together in a group setting. Both are compelling, and A Curious Mind is a real joy to read. But Wiser may be the more important book because so much of scaling and sustaining a company’s success depends on its leaders working well together. For this reason, it is my pick as the best business book of the year on strategy.
Startups are from Venus, Corporates are from Mars | Co.Station Beatrice de Mahieu
Collaboration between large corporates and tech startups are key in Europe in order to foster innovation together. We all clearly see the benefits for both sides, but applying these collaborations are easier said than done. What are the benefits and challenges for both in these collaboration models? When corporates and startups wisely choose their partners, they can live happily ever after!
Finders, Minders and Grinders: The Three Essential Roles in Your BusinessAvalon Ventures
In order for a company to be successful at all, it needs three types of people: Finders, Minders and Grinders. These roles need the support of each other. Here is how they are distinguished and intertwined.
Top 15 Takeaways - Mind the Gap Tour Raleigh Stan Phelps
The top 15 takeaways from the Mind the Gap Tour Event in Raleigh, NC. Stan Phelps presented Seeing the Customer Experience Gap, Tim Moore presented
Understanding the Workplace Generational Gap, and Gary Tomlinson presented Closing the Strategy to Execution Gap.
The handout from a presentation about ideas for developing a sustainable business. Done after 20 years in business as a one-person consulting and training firm and delivered to ASTD and NASAGA conferences for stimulating ideas and reframing beliefs. It is old but still a worthwhile read for anyone thinking about starting up a training business with limited assets.
The best CEOs don’t just have strategies, they have Strategies of Preeminence that result in outside success. Yet most business leaders don’t have a strategy that is different from a strategy of operational excellence or haven’t thought about it long enough to know whether it’s working.
What does it take to create a Strategy of Preeminence? The 7 Secrets represents an Integrative, systematic, seven step process for rewriting your future, your organization’s future, and transforming yourself as a leader in the process. It starts with asking the leader, “Are you a strategist?” and goes on to designing an impossible future or ennobling purpose, building a strategy of preeminence, and a creating a delivery mechanism to match.
Every CEO and Founder can create a strategy of preeminence and drive explosive growth. Find out how here.
From studying the top 100 companies on the NYSE, I have discovered the 10 multipliers of high growth companies. The 10 Mulitiliers represent a Blueprint to a Billion.
This book will provide you with new tools, skills,
and a mindset to harness opportunities born of
uncertainty in order to design a better business.
We’ve included tons of real-world examples of
people who have mastered the fundamentals of
design, as well as case studies of companies that
have created change using design as the under-
lying foundation for decision making. And, just as
design is a repeatable process, this book is meant
not only to guide you on your design journey, but
also to provide an ongoing reference to help you
scale the design beyond one project or product
to an entire company.
Judging creative idea guide, this material will help the marketer especially those who work on advertising or brand to be able to formulate rational and structured thinking of judging creative idea
A quick few pages on some key things I took away from this year's Planningness. It's fun and light, and I blatantly stole ideas, quotes and charts from our very lovely speakers. Thank you to everyone who came out! Such a fun time.
Startups are from Venus, Corporates are from Mars | Co.Station Beatrice de Mahieu
Collaboration between large corporates and tech startups are key in Europe in order to foster innovation together. We all clearly see the benefits for both sides, but applying these collaborations are easier said than done. What are the benefits and challenges for both in these collaboration models? When corporates and startups wisely choose their partners, they can live happily ever after!
Finders, Minders and Grinders: The Three Essential Roles in Your BusinessAvalon Ventures
In order for a company to be successful at all, it needs three types of people: Finders, Minders and Grinders. These roles need the support of each other. Here is how they are distinguished and intertwined.
Top 15 Takeaways - Mind the Gap Tour Raleigh Stan Phelps
The top 15 takeaways from the Mind the Gap Tour Event in Raleigh, NC. Stan Phelps presented Seeing the Customer Experience Gap, Tim Moore presented
Understanding the Workplace Generational Gap, and Gary Tomlinson presented Closing the Strategy to Execution Gap.
The handout from a presentation about ideas for developing a sustainable business. Done after 20 years in business as a one-person consulting and training firm and delivered to ASTD and NASAGA conferences for stimulating ideas and reframing beliefs. It is old but still a worthwhile read for anyone thinking about starting up a training business with limited assets.
The best CEOs don’t just have strategies, they have Strategies of Preeminence that result in outside success. Yet most business leaders don’t have a strategy that is different from a strategy of operational excellence or haven’t thought about it long enough to know whether it’s working.
What does it take to create a Strategy of Preeminence? The 7 Secrets represents an Integrative, systematic, seven step process for rewriting your future, your organization’s future, and transforming yourself as a leader in the process. It starts with asking the leader, “Are you a strategist?” and goes on to designing an impossible future or ennobling purpose, building a strategy of preeminence, and a creating a delivery mechanism to match.
Every CEO and Founder can create a strategy of preeminence and drive explosive growth. Find out how here.
From studying the top 100 companies on the NYSE, I have discovered the 10 multipliers of high growth companies. The 10 Mulitiliers represent a Blueprint to a Billion.
This book will provide you with new tools, skills,
and a mindset to harness opportunities born of
uncertainty in order to design a better business.
We’ve included tons of real-world examples of
people who have mastered the fundamentals of
design, as well as case studies of companies that
have created change using design as the under-
lying foundation for decision making. And, just as
design is a repeatable process, this book is meant
not only to guide you on your design journey, but
also to provide an ongoing reference to help you
scale the design beyond one project or product
to an entire company.
Judging creative idea guide, this material will help the marketer especially those who work on advertising or brand to be able to formulate rational and structured thinking of judging creative idea
A quick few pages on some key things I took away from this year's Planningness. It's fun and light, and I blatantly stole ideas, quotes and charts from our very lovely speakers. Thank you to everyone who came out! Such a fun time.
A comprehensive look at one of the world's leading corporate training institutions. Innerwealth brings leading self awareness to corporate environments. Straight talking Aussie style
Come prendere voti (e vincere) con la posta elettronica.
I migliori consigli per utilizzare al meglio l'email come strumento politico. La presentazione è ottima per le sedi locali dei partiti (circoli, sezioni, federazioni, ecc.), i comitati elettorali, le componenti interne delle forze politiche, le associazioni di cultura politica, i gruppi di pressione, i candidati, i dirigenti politici.
This article reviews the travels of facilities industry leaders as they journey to China to see the new Olympic park under construction plus be industry ambassadors to many other facilities and construction efforts. Carrithers shares the trip and the learnings.
Achieving Business Excellence (a ChangeThis Manifesto by John Spence)Samuli Pahkala
"There is no single strategy that will carry your company forever—just ask my buddy Tom Peters, who wrote the fantastic book In Search of Excellence back in 1982, only to watch more than half of the companies he highlighted go out of business! Markets shift, consumer preferences change, new competitors appear, technology advances—and so must you. Even though I can recommend which of today’s popular strategies I believe deserve your attention, there is no guarantee that these same strategies will still be as relevant in 20 years. I think they will, but no one can see that far ahead.
With all of that said, [these] are the six strategies on which all the great companies I studied were relentlessly focused."
The Spirit of Co-creation Whitepaper - Risk Managed Creativity For BusinessSense Worldwide
Our perspectives on the principles of how you bring your colleagues, your customers and yourself together, to make things better and make better things. It's all about asking the right questions of the right people in the right way.
Why do companies lose their best talents?CelexProject
I often say that no company is bigger or better than the people who work there, employees give it a damned hard every day. So why do companies lose their best talent all the time?
MTBiz is for you if you are looking for contemporary information on business, economy and especially on banking industry of Bangladesh. You would also find periodical information on Global Economy and Commodity Markets.
Signature content of MTBiz is its Article of the Month (AoM), as depicted on Cover Page of each issue, with featured focus on different issues that fall into the wide definition of Market, Business, Organization and Leadership. The AoM also covers areas on Innovation, Central Banking, Monetary Policy, National Budget, Economic Depression or Growth and Capital Market. Scale of coverage of the AoM both, global and local subject to each issue.
MTBiz is a monthly Market Review produced and distributed by Group R&D, MTB since 2009.
This Blue Paper® examines how to determine if a business partner is right for your
company. It will provide you with the questions you should ask before making
this commitment. It will walk through the advantages and disadvantages of
partnerships and outline the main types. The paper will also discuss what to look
for in a partner and what to avoid, as well as provide some simple checklists along
the way to help you through the process.
How to Survive & Thrive in Today´s High Risk Business World.
In this new economy that we are living, "Culture of High Risk," Companies can lose phenomenal sums of money for months and deny that anything is amiss, until losses are too large to be ignored. Then they look for the downsizing employees in a futile attempt to cut their losses. When asked why they didn´t do anything about their mounting losses earlier, some companies use to say “We are waiting for it to turn around” or “We can´t do much about it because we can´t get the right employees to cooperate”...these excuses are nothing more than denials that the situation is bad and must be changed.
Test Your Innovation IQ Holly Green, Contributor Origina.docxtodd191
Test Your Innovation IQ
Holly Green, Contributor
Original Source
Everyone knows that innovation means coming up with the next great idea in your
industry, right? Actually, there’s a lot more to it than that. Test your ability to separate
innovation fact from fiction by answering the following questions true or false:
1. Innovation is the act of coming up with new and creative ideas.
2. Innovation is a random process.
3. Innovation is the exclusive realm of a few naturally talented people.
4. The biggest obstacle to innovation is a lack of organizational resources and
know-how.
5. The most important type of innovation involves bringing new products and
services to market.
6. Teaching employees to think creatively will guarantee innovation.
7. The most powerful way to trigger your brain is to simply ask it a question.
8. Most companies pursue incremental rather than disruptive innovation.
9. Most companies are not structured to innovate.
10. Listening to your customers is a great way to innovate.
Answers:
1. False. In business, innovation is the act of applying knowledge, new or old, to the
creation of new processes, products, and services that have value for at least one of
your stakeholder groups. The key word here is applying. Generating creative ideas is
certainly part of the process. But in order to produce true innovation, you have to
actually do something different that has value.
2. False. Innovation is a discipline that can (and should) be planned, measured, and
managed. If left to chance, it won’t happen.
3. False. Everyone has the power to innovate by letting their brain wander, explore,
connect, and see the world differently. The problem is that we’re all running so fast that
we fail to make time for the activities that allow our brains to see patterns and make
connections. Such as pausing and wondering….what if?
4. False. In most organizations, the biggest obstacle to innovation is what people
already know to be true about their customers, markets, and business. Whenever you’re
absolutely, positively sure you’re right, any chance at meaningful innovation goes out
the window.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/12/06/test-your-innovation-iq/#3133e7f0395b
5. False. It’s certainly important to bring new products and services to market. But the
most important form of innovation, and the #1 challenge for today’s business leaders
may really be reinventing the way we manage ourselves and our companies.
6. False. New ideas are a dime a dozen. The hard part is turning those ideas into new
products and services that customers value and are willing to pay for -- a process that
requires knowledge about what your customers want and need, coupled with
implementation.
7. True. Ask a question and the brain responds instinctually to get closure. The key with
innovation is to ask questions that open people to possibilities, new ways of looking at
the same data, and new interpre.
18 ways to kill a startup or your startup FU40 Group sharesEmmanuel Omikunle
for founders and entrepreneurs who really want to try to prevent business / startup failure. most parts were written by Paul of YC we are just sharing. Enjoy
At the yearly conference, held in Phoenix AZ this year, David Carrithers received the Emeritus Member Chairman’s Award from the Center For Job Order Contracting Excellence for his 16+ years of support to the industry and CJE. Job order contracting is a contracting form for public funded renovation and construction originated with the Department of Defense in the 1980’s.
“It was a great honor to receive this award from the Industry Chair Mike Bevis, CJP and the board of this important industry association it means a great deal to me. Over the years I have meet and worked alongside so many amazing members and leaders at CJE. It is always up lifting to not just work with others in the A/E/C/ Facilities (Architecture/ Engineering/ Construction) industry but grow to call these hardworking people friends.” says Carrithers.
► Engaging Operations and Strategy Executive possessing a winning blend of business expertise, skill in operations management, and practical experience. Experienced in driving revenue growth and brand visibility in challenging markets.
► Leverages a unique mix of strategic and analytical expertise, consistently exceeding performance and revenue goals by aligning the effort of strong teams with organizational objectives.
Targeting Realtors whose clients are foreign nationals purchasing property in the US and moving to the states, at the same time foreign Realtors representing US nationals overseas buying vacation property or retiring overseas.
Transformational Strategies Creating Team, Brand & Market Results!
My passion is in better business growth through better branding, marketing, sales and new development processes. I bring to life transformational strategies, aligned team efforts and create targeted growth. I have mastered building industry alliances, stronger relationships with clients and growing the top line business volume while improving the bottom-line profit margin.
High Definition Impressions (HDI) develops grassroots educational marketing strategies that help healthcare providers and manufacturers expand market share, while promoting patient loyalty and best practices branding. Our well planned and research-based programs are co-created with medical experts for medical experts.
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. You’ll also learn
• Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
• The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
• Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
Falcon stands out as a top-tier P2P Invoice Discounting platform in India, bridging esteemed blue-chip companies and eager investors. Our goal is to transform the investment landscape in India by establishing a comprehensive destination for borrowers and investors with diverse profiles and needs, all while minimizing risk. What sets Falcon apart is the elimination of intermediaries such as commercial banks and depository institutions, allowing investors to enjoy higher yields.
Putting the SPARK into Virtual Training.pptxCynthia Clay
This 60-minute webinar, sponsored by Adobe, was delivered for the Training Mag Network. It explored the five elements of SPARK: Storytelling, Purpose, Action, Relationships, and Kudos. Knowing how to tell a well-structured story is key to building long-term memory. Stating a clear purpose that doesn't take away from the discovery learning process is critical. Ensuring that people move from theory to practical application is imperative. Creating strong social learning is the key to commitment and engagement. Validating and affirming participants' comments is the way to create a positive learning environment.
Skye Residences | Extended Stay Residences Near Toronto Airportmarketingjdass
Experience unparalleled EXTENDED STAY and comfort at Skye Residences located just minutes from Toronto Airport. Discover sophisticated accommodations tailored for discerning travelers.
Website Link :
https://skyeresidences.com/
https://skyeresidences.com/about-us/
https://skyeresidences.com/gallery/
https://skyeresidences.com/rooms/
https://skyeresidences.com/near-by-attractions/
https://skyeresidences.com/commute/
https://skyeresidences.com/contact/
https://skyeresidences.com/queen-suite-with-sofa-bed/
https://skyeresidences.com/queen-suite-with-sofa-bed-and-balcony/
https://skyeresidences.com/queen-suite-with-sofa-bed-accessible/
https://skyeresidences.com/2-bedroom-deluxe-queen-suite-with-sofa-bed/
https://skyeresidences.com/2-bedroom-deluxe-king-queen-suite-with-sofa-bed/
https://skyeresidences.com/2-bedroom-deluxe-queen-suite-with-sofa-bed-accessible/
#Skye Residences Etobicoke, #Skye Residences Near Toronto Airport, #Skye Residences Toronto, #Skye Hotel Toronto, #Skye Hotel Near Toronto Airport, #Hotel Near Toronto Airport, #Near Toronto Airport Accommodation, #Suites Near Toronto Airport, #Etobicoke Suites Near Airport, #Hotel Near Toronto Pearson International Airport, #Toronto Airport Suite Rentals, #Pearson Airport Hotel Suites
Improving profitability for small businessBen Wann
In this comprehensive presentation, we will explore strategies and practical tips for enhancing profitability in small businesses. Tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by small enterprises, this session covers various aspects that directly impact the bottom line. Attendees will learn how to optimize operational efficiency, manage expenses, and increase revenue through innovative marketing and customer engagement techniques.
The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is buzzing with discussions after Google confirmed that around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its Search feature are indeed authentic. The revelation has sparked significant concerns within the SEO community. The leaked documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, igniting widespread analysis and discourse. For More Info:- https://news.arihantwebtech.com/search-disrupted-googles-leaked-documents-rock-the-seo-world/
Tata Group Dials Taiwan for Its Chipmaking Ambition in Gujarat’s DholeraAvirahi City Dholera
The Tata Group, a titan of Indian industry, is making waves with its advanced talks with Taiwanese chipmakers Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and UMC Group. The goal? Establishing a cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication unit (fab) in Dholera, Gujarat. This isn’t just any project; it’s a potential game changer for India’s chipmaking aspirations and a boon for investors seeking promising residential projects in dholera sir.
Visit : https://www.avirahi.com/blog/tata-group-dials-taiwan-for-its-chipmaking-ambition-in-gujarats-dholera/
Enterprise Excellence is Inclusive Excellence.pdfKaiNexus
Enterprise excellence and inclusive excellence are closely linked, and real-world challenges have shown that both are essential to the success of any organization. To achieve enterprise excellence, organizations must focus on improving their operations and processes while creating an inclusive environment that engages everyone. In this interactive session, the facilitator will highlight commonly established business practices and how they limit our ability to engage everyone every day. More importantly, though, participants will likely gain increased awareness of what we can do differently to maximize enterprise excellence through deliberate inclusion.
What is Enterprise Excellence?
Enterprise Excellence is a holistic approach that's aimed at achieving world-class performance across all aspects of the organization.
What might I learn?
A way to engage all in creating Inclusive Excellence. Lessons from the US military and their parallels to the story of Harry Potter. How belt systems and CI teams can destroy inclusive practices. How leadership language invites people to the party. There are three things leaders can do to engage everyone every day: maximizing psychological safety to create environments where folks learn, contribute, and challenge the status quo.
Who might benefit? Anyone and everyone leading folks from the shop floor to top floor.
Dr. William Harvey is a seasoned Operations Leader with extensive experience in chemical processing, manufacturing, and operations management. At Michelman, he currently oversees multiple sites, leading teams in strategic planning and coaching/practicing continuous improvement. William is set to start his eighth year of teaching at the University of Cincinnati where he teaches marketing, finance, and management. William holds various certifications in change management, quality, leadership, operational excellence, team building, and DiSC, among others.
LA HUG - Video Testimonials with Chynna Morgan - June 2024Lital Barkan
Have you ever heard that user-generated content or video testimonials can take your brand to the next level? We will explore how you can effectively use video testimonials to leverage and boost your sales, content strategy, and increase your CRM data.🤯
We will dig deeper into:
1. How to capture video testimonials that convert from your audience 🎥
2. How to leverage your testimonials to boost your sales 💲
3. How you can capture more CRM data to understand your audience better through video testimonials. 📊
VAT Registration Outlined In UAE: Benefits and Requirementsuae taxgpt
Vat Registration is a legal obligation for businesses meeting the threshold requirement, helping companies avoid fines and ramifications. Contact now!
https://viralsocialtrends.com/vat-registration-outlined-in-uae/
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern BusinessesSynapseIndia
Stay ahead of the curve with our premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions. Our expert developers utilize MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js to create modern and responsive web applications. Trust us for cutting-edge solutions that drive your business growth and success.
Know more: https://www.synapseindia.com/technology/mean-stack-development-company.html
Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern Businesses
Yahoo finance Collaborate or Die
1. Collaborate Or Die
Where Is Your Sustainable Competitive Advantage?
The enemy is everywhere. Trust no one. If you want something done right then
do it yourself. If we didn't build it then it must be second rate. Pretty basic
thoughts. Ones that go back to being a 10 year old, looking at the world as if no
one else could ever understand you, your ideas and your feelings.
Then as we grow up and move on we take these feelings with us. We join
companies that have years of structure around keeping the knowledge in-house,
under cover and wrapped up with non-competes, exclusives and non-
disclosures.
The realization has come to pass that "collaborate or die" should be tattooed on
a manager's forehead. Why foreheads? So that everyone can SEE that it is OK
to work with others not in the fold. Not only do companies have a hard time with
collaboration with other businesses, but also other departments within the same
company!
For too long there was a Cold War mentality about management, business and
the competition. Even suppliers were looked at as possible leaks of thinking. And
this was true just a few years ago. But with the development path (or more like
explosion) of new technologies, new players and new business models, the old
way of thinking about business is like the WWI French Maginot Line (a 100 mile
underground fortress built by the French after WWI to prepare for possible future
invasion from Germany again). Well, lo-and-behold a really neat new
weapon/technology, the airplane, made the concept obsolete before WW2 even
started. The old line thinking of trenching, stonewalling, and "must be made here"
is worthless in a world where any manager can go out and find tons of
information on any possible topic. Where any employee can e-mail the CEO of
their company. Where everything is being built for ease of communications and
sharing (i.e. files, data, documents, thoughts and even emotions).
The change on collaboration needs to start with the people, the managers, and
the business drivers within an organization. Time and time again I come across
people who still fear the "unknown" of collaboration. Or even worse, collaboration
that is one-sided (all for them, little for anyone else).
2. An important directional change is needed and it needs to start in the schools,
the associations, and the journals of business. It's OK not to do everything
yourself. It's OK to look for partners, and others to "jointly" develop and grow a
business, a product or a technology. Collaboration begins not with engineers, or
research people, or IT people, it begins with the business managers of a
company and their willingness to look outside their fortress.
Many U.S. businesses have spent a great deal of dollars and time to create a
culture that looks at anyone not on the payroll as a threat, a leak, someone that
is not to be trusted. Collaboration requires defined and tested trust, and a
willingness to start with the idea that the other person might just bring something
of value!
The Maginot Line companies build (even the new Dot.com's - where "you must
drink the Cool-Aid or you are not to be trusted) will in the end be as useless as
the physical one built at the beginning of the last century. It almost ties to the
human Psyche of "if I collaborate maybe others will not think I'm important, I'm
not worth the salary I'm paid." Human nature within a business setting might be
driven to not collaborate. It might be more about the individual’s introspection on
what they are worth alone, or in "control" vs. a collaborative effort (many parts
making a stronger whole).
Now this doesn't mean you shouldn't use sound judgment. You still need to make
sure that your mission to collaborate is filled with exploration, with due diligence,
with reviews and written understandings. It does mean begin with the thought to
collaborate with another business, maybe even a competitor. Even another
department or just one other individual besides yourself is a good thing to do.
Corporate isolationism creates the problem of being unprepared or unrealistic of
what the market will drop on a company or industry. This isolationism of thought,
this inability to grow beyond a corporation's brand and knowledge leads to big
problems. All answers come from within and most of the time the answers are
just a mirror image of nods and agreements. Confirmations that the leader was
right. And in the end progress is either not found or it's forced.
Collaboration can speed up new ideas and offerings, reduce development costs
and stress on an organization. It can lead to new ideas never thought of before
when a business looks outward. So maybe the French government at the start of
the last century would have been wiser to spend the $100 million (in 1920
3. dollars) to find ways to bring the two countries together and work together, than
to separate them (both physically and culturally).
One point of clarification. Don't get confused. Collaboration is not consensus
management. Consensus management is the destroyer of advancement.
Consensus management is creator of all things mediocre and "plain vanilla."
Consensus management is what happens when there is a lack of direction,
passion and will that shows no element of leadership. While on the other hand,
collaboration is the honest sharing and mingling of the strengths of two, three or
more businesses, people and/or products to create something new, and
sometimes something bold. Collaboration requires a direction and demands true
leadership. Collaboration strengthens, while consensus management weakens.
BusinessHive Collaboration Ideas:
*Look through your industry association directory and see who is on the list.
Send them a letter introducing yourself and your products/services. Even give the
letter a tone of not sure where this will end up, but I wanted to touch base and..."
*Are there services or features that you know would add value to your products,
your company, but you can't afford the development costs? Find the top 5
players that already have a focused business on these, add on value
opportunities and see if they want to become a supplier partner, or team up and
do a joint marketing and development effort.
*Have you ever even met the competition? Might be worth talking with them at
tradeshows, at conferences and maybe even meeting on their turf. Sometimes
you will find that you have more in common than you think. There might be
opportunities to carry out industry wide development or research efforts helping
both companies. And sometimes, there might be opportunities to build
combination products (this has been done successfully in the agricultural
chemical industry for years) where two competing products are combined to
create a new third product that both can sell.
*The client can sometimes be the best place to look for ideas on collaboration.
Clients love to be turned to as mentors or as industry experts. Ask them how can
we make the products better, the service better, who does it best in their minds,
etc. Based on this information build a target list of possible collaborators and
extend the hand of interest first.