“Remember, teamwork begins by building trust.
And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.”
~ Patrick Lencioni
Disasters, pandemics, etc., can not force people to collaborate… more than the minimum they believe is required!
Why do you think this happens… repeatedly?
Sure… 15% to 20% of people will collaborate no matter what is happening. What about the other 80% to 85%?
Our world’s track records consistently demonstrates that we’ve been incapable of fixing any major social challenge from war to climate change to equal respect for all, etc.
As people on this rock we call Earth, we have consistently failed at coming together continuously for the betterment of all. Does that mean it is just unnatural for people to come together… and our natural chemistry is to be self-centered?
In a management meeting, one of the best Presidents I’d worked with, opened the meeting by sharing his Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). He followed this by saying bluntly, I know:
- 15% To 20% of you are excited, the hair on your neck is standing up and you’re thinking, get me out of this meeting I’m ready to get rolling!
- 15% To 20% of you are scared, because you don’t have much to contribute, want to maintain the status quo and are trying to figure out how to sabotage this effort!
- 60% To 70% of you, are on the fence.
Thus; I need that top 15% to 20%, when we leave here, to show that “on the fence” group, together, we can.
This Fortune 100, no-BS President said it the way it really was, while owning this uncomfortable reality… not everyone was talented, collaborative, etc.! And yes, we implemented the BHAG and there was a trail of incompetent talent a mile long that pursued other opportunities or at least got out of the way of progress.
We’ve just recognized 9/11/2001… but have we “come together” in the last 20 years? Most data demonstrates, we have not come together.
I met one of The Little Rock Nine… have we come fully together in the 60+ years on race relations since that historical event, driven by such a ludicrously basic human attribute as… skin color? Most data demonstrates, we have not come fully together.
The Covid pandemic… seems we’d rather stand in a circle and pee on each other’s legs than come together in a timely manner to solve this crisis that will continue to reek havoc far and wide into the future as the virus continues to mutate.
War after war… we continue to demonstrate, it’s apparently easier to fight with each other than come together. Sigh!
.
Self-Centeredness is the common thread of incurable cancer that weaves its way through
the world, corporations, Non-Profits, families and 1:1 relationships.
Just maybe…
an open mind and a healthy dose of unconditional love from 80% of us…
could actually bring us together!
Will you join me?
Are you an Intelligent, Collaborative Leader, who loves making (not just talking) a Significant Social Impact in other people’s lives?
Would you love to intelligently create $100+ Thousand a month for Your Favorite Non-Profits?
DM me on LinkedIn or directly (jim.roncevich@ipgsocialimpact.com).
Who changes the world? I believe it’s almost exclusively the Top-7%. They are the only ones with the Talent Portfolios and social consciences needed to actually implement significant positive social impact.
If you believe you’re one of these executives, we’d love to explore possible opportunities.
Get MAD! Get Making A Difference! ~ JR
