None of us is as smart as all of us

There’s no shortage of great ideas to lead teams in 2017. They are very simplistic, which is important these days. Usually simple ideas help us go deeper.

1. Own the Challenge.  What problem are we solving? This should be at the heart of every partner interaction.

2. Make it Real.  Be creative and demonstrate “real-world ideas” around how our solutions could work. This is the best way to decrease complexity, which is a huge challenge for us.  

3. Be Present.  Listening and spending time with our partners builds the trust that leads to the magic. We’ll need to de-emphasize “pitch decks” and narratives to do this well. 

4. Love What You Do.  Seriously. We all need to figure out why we love what we do. It's different for each of us, and each person will need to define this for herself, focus on it, and make it real. When you tell a client, friend, family member or coworker that you "love what you do" and you actually believe it, it will have a profound effect on how you experience your company and how your friends, coworkers and clients experience you.