Capitalism is Misunderstood
Win-lose, zero-sum battlegrounds are all around us. Sports are a prime example. Harnessing anger and fear to conquer the other side brings out beast mode in players so they will dominate with force. It's also common in command-control workplaces where people are expendable and get fired if they don't tow the rope as demanded. Game theory predicts that win-win behavior generates the best outcome for all sides. But it’s hard to play win-win when you are afraid of losing. The more common path is to stoke the fear and use basal instinct to win. This can be exciting because, "Baby, even the losers get lucky sometimes!" (see: Tom Petty). But it’s also destructive and ultimately fails to deliver sustainable results. Check out this video by Whole Foods Founder John Mackey for a deeper look at the potential of capitalism for reciprocity.
Relationships > Commodities
Invest some time reading and reflecting on The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Her poetic and scientific grasp on the power of abundance and reciprocity to overcome many of our macroeconomic and ecological challenges is compelling. The bottom line is that relationships are the strongest growth asset and will outperform commodities in the long run.
Leadership is a Group Outcome
It is common to assume that leaders are exceptional players with unique qualities, but none of our most revered leaders act solo.
Real leadership is the result of successful collaboration and competition amongst a diverse group of individuals aligned on a common mission.
In this view, leaders are made, not born.
Talent is Water
Talent is a complex and fluid mixture of skills, attributes, experience, and interests. It gives life to an organization much as water gives life to our planet.
Talent is the currency of exchange between people and organizations. Organizations have work that needs talent, and people have talent that needs work. Winning organizations conserve talent as a natural resource, protecting it from loss, degradation, and waste.
Culture is a Craft
What makes a strong culture? What even is a culture? It is often described in squishy terms and vague phrases like, "It's what you do when nobody is looking" or "what you tolerate."
That might be true, but how do you go about building one?
Culture is a craft. A craft is both a vessel to carry something (like a boat) and a skillful, hands-on practice (like ceramics) that produces a beautiful object that has a function.
As a vessel, culture is a set of values, behaviors, rituals, and artifacts that carry a company to its goals.
As a practice, culture is both an art and a science involving deep expertise in human behavior and a resonant appreciation of human aesthetics.
A strong culture is aligned around one or two values while a weak culture is one that is diluted across too many values. From a functional perspective culture can and should be crafted to support a focus that guides members to collective action.
Communication Bridges Gaps
Winning organizations rely on collaboration, not control, to get things done. But let's face it, communication is complicated and difficult!
Nonetheless, effective dialogue is the key to successful collaboration so it pays to invest the time, energy, and expertise necessary to ensure everyone is in the loop and on the same page.
Winning Organizations thoughtfully develop appropriate channels, content, and characters to tell stories, share information, build relationships, and rally towards goals.