Ignite! Newsletter—June 2009 Article
The Impact of Ego on Collaboration
As Blanchard explains, when people get caught up in their ego, it erodes their effectiveness. That's because the combination of false pride and self-doubt created by an overactive ego gives people a distorted image of their own importance. When that happens, people see themselves as the center of the universe and they begin to put their own agenda, safety, status, and gratification ahead of those affected by their thoughts and actions.
That's a deadly combination in today's business environment where organisations need people to work together collaboratively to meet the ever increasing expectations of customers.
The good news is that there is an antidote
Recognise that it's not about you
The first way to recalibrate an overactive ego is through humility. In organisations, humility means recognizing that work is not all about you; it's about the people you serve and what they need. For leaders, this means seeing your job as creating and maintaining a motivating work environment that engages employees so they can engage customers.
Be a learner
The second way to rebalance ego is by becoming a continual learner. Whether you're a leader or an individual contributor, you need to be open to learn from other people and to listen to them.
As Blanchard explains, the key question is, "Are you a learner? If you're not, then you probably think you've already got all the answers.
"If that's true," Blanchard explains, "then you won't want to work with anybody."
Increase involvement and influence
Blanchard has a little test he uses when he is getting ready to work with another organisation. After meeting with a potential collaborator, Blanchard imagines what would happen if both parties went their separate ways.
As he explains, "If they got into a separate room and we got into a separate room, could we do what we're talking about without them? If we can, then there is no reason to work together. If we can't, then we should collaborate."
Blanchard goes on to explain that if people think they've got all the answers and don't need any help, they're not likely to be interested in collaborating. That's why having an attitude that you don't have all the answers and you're open to learning is so important.
"None of us is as smart as all of us," explains Blanchard. "This really means that one plus one is a lot bigger than two."
Find a partner
Next, find somebody to work with. Find somebody who has the skills and energy in doing what you don't know how to do yet.
Ken Blanchard says, as he looks back at his own experience working with over 50 coauthors to write 42 different books, "We never competed with each other. Instead we completed each other. So often people are afraid to share because they feel they are going to be competing with each other."
Build a shared purpose
Finally, the fourth key to achieving healthy organisational collaboration and minimizing individual ego is to rally people around a shared visionsomething bigger than themselves. When everyone shares a clear sense of purpose, process, and practice, it's amazing what can be accomplished.
A great example of this synergy that Blanchard likes to point to is Southwest Airlines. As a part of their strategy to provide high quality, low cost air transportation, everyone who works for the company knows that Southwest's ability to get an airplane ready for its next flight faster than its competitors is a competitive advantage that allows Southwest to get an extra flight in and subsequently extra revenue from the same plane.
As Blanchard explains: "When you have to turn over a plane in 12 minutes, you see pilots in there, cleaning the planeeveryone's helping. They don't say it's not my department.'"
He credits Southwest's three driving values: warrior spirit, servant heart, and fun-loving attitude for keeping egos in check and customer satisfaction rating high.
Today, you need to partner
There are many benefits to collaboration. The most noticeable is better customer service inside and outside the organisation. With more collaboration, job performance and sales are going to increase because people are working together, coming up with new ideas and better ways to do things.
In today's fast-paced business environment you can't afford the time to develop all of the competencies required to keep customers satisfied and business growing. Today, you have to collaborate with people both inside and outside your organisation who have the skills and capacities that you don't. The result is a one plus one synergy that equals a lot more than two, and provides the competitive advantage needed to serve customers, grow, and prosper.
Don't let egos get in the way in your organisation. Your organisation's ability to overcome these self-serving tendencies will determine to a large degree your ability to work effectively with others toward a common goal or fall dysfunctionally into frustrations of your own making.
Would you like to learn more about working together collaboratively?
Then join us in your own time for our our recorded webinar that was held on June 10 '09 (+Many other recorded Blanchard Leadership & Management webinars).
The Power of Collaboration
Organisation-wide collaboration is the key to innovation and performance in today's competitive business environment. In this webinar, best-selling business author Ken Blanchard will explore the importance of idea sharing in addressing today's complex business issues.
You'll learn new strategies to:
Check out and register for one of our most popular past events by choosing a title from the list at this link here