Partnerships

My Top 5 looks like this:

I then compiled a list of the people I was with when I had the most fun. A colorful list emerged: my wife Kristine, old friends, new friends, blacksmiths, actors, my children, farmers, educators, gang members, my grandchildren, hip-hop stars, my extended family, lawyers, stonemasons, artists, and film directors. I have done my Top 5 things alone as well as in the company of others. But I'm sure of this: I had the most fun in the company of others.

Based on my less than scientific study above and more than 40 years in the labor market, with almost half as a coach with work life as my area of ​​expertise, I can now conclude the following: If you want to have a lot of fun at your job, work with others. As much as possible!

An American entrepreneur, investor and author, Martin Zwiling, agrees. He focuses on startups, but I believe his observations can easily be applied to established companies and corporations, too. In his article for the American business magazine INC, he explains why it is wise to have more hands lifting the burden from the very beginning of entrepreneurial adventures of any kind. I have picked out those of his arguments I know best from my work with companies – the old and the young, the small and the large ones.

Collaboration confers the following benefits:

In my own company, I have just completed a minor recruitment of new coaches.

As I rounded off my final interview with a strong candidate, I apologized to her that regrettably the communal spirit between our affiliated coaches isn't quite as strong as I could hope for, but that it was high on my list of priorities, and an initiative was just around the corner. The candidate's prompt response was: “This initiative doesn’t need to come from you? We can make that happen, right?” she said, nodding in the direction of our coach, Rikke, whom I had invited to join the interview. It surprised me that she offered this response without blinking, and it thrilled me to no end. Someone makes things happen without my contribution, and these are things that benefit myself and my company? The likelihood of the two doing a better job than me is fairly high, so I'll be learning a lot along the way. That's so much winning I can't even quantify it.

Back in 2015, I was fortunate enough to be involved in various parts of the measures taken by the NCC development & construction company to introduce sustainability as a core part of their production. They engaged all of their partners in the process: suppliers, customers, employees, the parent company, politicians, employees, and grassroots became involved in their vision. The end result was a heightened self-awareness within the company, along with greater curiosity, and support from the entire extended network of the firm.

Jonathan Auerbach, Executive VP of PayPal, ended his contribution to World Economic Forum in January 2018 by concluding on behalf of international fintech that increased strategic cooperation between businesses, civil society, and public sectors will be a significant driver of innovation, growth, and social impact through 2018 and beyond. 

The post was called "Why partnership is the business trend to watch". It's worth a read. 

So remember this: Large or small, if you want to do really well and have lots of fun doing it, work with others.

Make it fun, do it together!

Most of the modern, progressive companies and organizations I visit share a perspective: The happier their employees, high to low, are about going to work, the better it is for the workplace. This harmonizes wonderfully with my efforts to always turn up the excitement a notch or two – for myself and for everyone who may be interested. When thinking about this column, I did a quick review of my adult life. What have I done that was the most fun?

I then compiled a list of the people I was with when I had the most fun. A colorful list emerged: my wife Kristine, old friends, new friends, blacksmiths, actors, my children, farmers, educators, gang members, my grandchildren, hip-hop stars, my extended family, lawyers, stonemasons, artists, and film directors. I have done my Top 5 things alone as well as in the company of others. But I'm sure of this: I had the most fun in the company of others.

Based on my less than scientific study above and more than 40 years in the labor market, with almost half as a coach with work life as my area of ​​expertise, I can now conclude the following: If you want to have a lot of fun at your job, work with others. As much as possible!

An American entrepreneur, investor and author, Martin Zwiling, agrees. He focuses on startups, but I believe his observations can easily be applied to established companies and corporations, too. In his article for the American business magazine INC, he explains why it is wise to have more hands lifting the burden from the very beginning of entrepreneurial adventures of any kind. I have picked out those of his arguments I know best from my work with companies – the old and the young, the small and the large ones.

Collaboration confers the following benefits:

In my own company, I have just completed a minor recruitment of new coaches.

As I rounded off my final interview with a strong candidate, I apologized to her that regrettably the communal spirit between our affiliated coaches isn't quite as strong as I could hope for, but that it was high on my list of priorities, and an initiative was just around the corner. The candidate's prompt response was: “This initiative doesn’t need to come from you? We can make that happen, right?” she said, nodding in the direction of our coach, Rikke, whom I had invited to join the interview. It surprised me that she offered this response without blinking, and it thrilled me to no end. Someone makes things happen without my contribution, and these are things that benefit myself and my company? The likelihood of the two doing a better job than me is fairly high, so I'll be learning a lot along the way. That's so much winning I can't even quantify it.

Back in 2015, I was fortunate enough to be involved in various parts of the measures taken by the NCC development & construction company to introduce sustainability as a core part of their production. They engaged all of their partners in the process: suppliers, customers, employees, the parent company, politicians, employees, and grassroots became involved in their vision. The end result was a heightened self-awareness within the company, along with greater curiosity, and support from the entire extended network of the firm.

Jonathan Auerbach, Executive VP of PayPal, ended his contribution to World Economic Forum in January 2018 by concluding on behalf of international fintech that increased strategic cooperation between businesses, civil society, and public sectors will be a significant driver of innovation, growth, and social impact through 2018 and beyond. 

The post was called "Why partnership is the business trend to watch". It's worth a read. 

So remember this: Large or small, if you want to do really well and have lots of fun doing it, work with others.