Partnering: a Foreword
Simon Sinek
Optimist, New York Times bestselling author of "Start with Why" and "The Infinite Game", and founder of The Optimism Company
The vision is clear: to build a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are, and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. And the best way for us to advance toward this vision is together. But there’s a problem . . .
Most people already know the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and “building strong working relationships” to get things done (and there have been countless books and articles written that drive home the point and teach us the skills to do those things). But there is another kind of relationship that gets less attention. A kind of relationship that is essential to advance any cause of value. A kind of relationship that goes much deeper than even some of the highest functioning teams and the most productive working relationships. That of the partnership.
I hesitate to even call these magical unions “partnerships” because the word actually does these relationships a disservice. A “partnership” is a noun, a thing. Two people may?have?a partnership or?be in?one, but for a partnership to reap the true benefits of the dynamic, it must be active. It must be a verb. A daily practice. To advance something greater than ourselves we must learn to?partner.
Partnering?is an exploration of these deeper, more enduring kinds of relationships. Many of them look more like marriages than professional relationships (and some of them are marriages). What they all have in common, however, is the willingness of both parties to completely open up themselves to their partner and to invest in deepening their relationship. This is why they not only last, but why they work.
As Jean Oelwang’s life progressed, she kept meeting and getting the chance to work with some of these remarkable partners. She saw, first-hand, the remarkable math that takes place when these partnerships work. It wasn’t the tired 1 + 1 = 3, it was more profound. It was more like 1 + 1 = millions. The power these partnerships produced inspired businesses, social movements, radical change, and the countless people who helped.
Jean became more than fascinated by these unique relationships and what made them different from other partnerships. She learned that there were discernible patterns among all these partnerships. Patterns that we could practice. In other words, every one of us has the ability to partner. This is a big deal. And this is why I asked Jean to write a book for Optimism Press. If more of us can learn to partner like the people in this book, then we become better equipped to advance big things and enjoy the deep safety and confidence that comes from knowing that there is someone by our side that will never, ever leave.
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Be sure to grab your copy of Partnering: Forge The Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen.
Partner on!
Co-Founder | Business Automation | CRM Specialist
1 年great!
Leader, Educator, Author
1 年Alliances move the world forward! Glad to see this title out with Optimism Press.
I 3X your IMPACT by raising your level of Consciousness. Which increases the manifestation powers of your mind. And you evolve into a significantly more persuasive leader, magnifying ur ability to create profound results
1 年1) I love the topic of this book, Simon! I follow that advice all the time. 2) On a separate topic, a bit irrelevant to the content here on deep connections (via allowing each person the Freedom to be themselves), in case you might be interested in World Policies that WILL affect you, there's a new law for TOTAL CONTROL over you (all of us, really) being discussed right now. Medical Dictatorship IS the new Hitler, called WHO (World Hell Organization). The first 5 min are crucial if you don't have time to watch more. Could it be a good idea to gently suggest to your followers to Block it before it affects everyone on Earth? Or whatever better ideas you might have, since you're a very smart and well-connected man? (And you have a heart of gold, if I might add, which is very rare nowadays.) Or maybe ask ChatGPT for alternative options as per your parameters of doing things? https://youtu.be/4MIESbBnA2k?si=BkoTuNHu-JN5wMHg
Product Designer | User-Centered Design and AI Integration | Crafting Intuitive Experiences that Drive Business Growth | AI, Growth Design, Figma, UX, UI, Visual
1 年In an age where many of us aren't listening to each other, this book appears to be a great reminder of how to partner with people (even those we disagree with). I'm looking forward to reading insights into how to listen more and when to ask the right questions to better understand a person's perspective. I think we all need to remember that we're all in this existence together.
Globally Certified Coach | Strategic Advisor | Organizational Effectiveness Strategist | Higher Ed Consultant | Podcast: Work Unscripted | Award-Winning Author
1 年It feels like deep connection seems to be lost in corporate America these days. With increased workloads and less people to do it, adverse working conditions, lack of job security, and conflicting overlapping roles, I see more and more teams being unable to communicate in a healthy way, let alone partner and function. If people spent more time building those deep connections, understanding each other and being curious, perhaps there would be less emotional reasoning and less dysfunction. Then again, then I'd be out of a job as a team coach. ??