Tap the Power of Partnership
“Bossing” thrives on closed doors. But our hearts long for partnership.
Vitality burns hot when bridging distance.
Partnership is sustainable leadership.
5 Principles of Partnership:
- Partners pull together. Bosses stand aloof. Think with, not over.
- Partners receive and give value. Bosses take. Keep score loosely. Give more than you track.
- Partners act collaboratively. Woven lives bear more weight than single threads. Contribute, benefit, and take responsibility together.
- Partners fail together. Response to people’s failure reveals the depth of partnerships. Bosses exile failures.
- Partners fuel trajectory. Small wins energize commitment.
Take care of each other to enhance your ability to serve others.
Show Up Like a Partner
High status people move first. Don’t wait for people to partner with you. Partner with them.
Get on their team before asking them to get on yours.
Ask 5 Alignment Questions
- What are your big goals?
- How might we help each other?
- How will we find and follow fulfillment in our work?
- What stands in the way?
- Who might help?
Partners share work, risk, and reward.
What shifts in your thinking when you approach leadership like a partner?
What are the risks of turning from boss to partner?
How to Build Relationships with the Right People
Make Your Partner Look Good: A Leadership Strategy That Works
As Truman observed, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” So true. But that takes humility. But as to your post here, partnerships are about us-we win, it’s not about me or I.
That was weird. No idea how that was posted by me, but under some other name and email address.
These famous partnerships have accomplished many great things.
Bill Hewlett & Dave Packard (Hewlett-Packard)
Bill Gates & Paul Allen (Microsoft)
Warren Buffett & Charlie Munger (Berkshire Hathaway)
Oprah Winfrey & Gayle King (Media projects)
Larry Page & Sergey Brin (Google)
Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield (Ben & Jerry’s)
William Procter & James Gamble (Procter & Gamble)
Walt Disney & Roy Disney (Disney)
Paul Hersey & Ken Blanchard (Situational Leadership)
Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner (The Leadership Challenge)
My partner challenges my thinking, provides suggestions, and gives candid feedback. She also encourages me and offers new insights on topics I am writing about.
Thanks for the list, Paul. Love it! It reminds me to connect with people.
Hi Dan,
This is among your BEST ! I can’t even pick the best line. Happy Holidays to all LF community
~ Cate
Wow! Thank you, Cate. Happy Holidays to you too. I love this time of year.