vPsychology for Business

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We are dedicated to bringing out the best in you and your employees
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Volume 4, Number 21                                                             October 17, 2003

http://www.psychologyforbusiness.com/

Psychology for Business is an e-mail newsletter written by  Dr. John Weaver, Dr. Lynda Dahlke, and Dr. Paul Glass, business psychologists and independent consultants, provided to you at no charge. It is published bi-weekly. You’ve received this newsletter because you’ve subscribed to it or it was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague. To subscribe sign up at our website, http://www.psychologyforbusiness.com/. If you wish to cancel your subscription, please see the end of this e-mail for easy instructions

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We invite you to forward this newsletter, in its entirety, to your colleagues.

On Executive Coaching:  Consider hiring a coach to help you with making the change you need to improve the collaborative efforts of your employees or to help you to develop the vision for your career that will propel you to the next level.

Executive coaching is not geographically limited.  Coaching by telephone is effective.  It is also an efficient use of time and resources.  You never need to leave your office to travel, nor do you need to pay travel expenses for your coach. We offer coaching either onsite or by telephone. To find out if coaching is right for you, contact us to schedule a 1/2 hour consultation at no charge.  Or request a price sheet to determine the best value for your organization.  Call us at: (262) 789-2728 or email us at mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com.

This newsletter was originally published on November 3, 2000. It was our first issue.

THE COLLABORATIVE EDGE – WHY COOPERATION IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

by Dr. John Weaver, Business Psychologist Independent Consultant

Is it survival of the fittest? Or do those who “fit in” survive? 

Fact: Each of us has only a part of the information or expertise we need to get things done.

Robert Kelly, of Carnegie-Mellon University asked people “What percentage of the knowledge you need to do your job is stored in your own mind?” In 1986 the answer was typically about 75%. By 1997 workers estimated that they had only about 15% to 20% of the knowledge needed in their own mind.

Fact: The group mind is far more intelligent than the individual mind.

In one research study, students studied and worked in groups during a college course. At the final exam, one portion was taken individually and additional set of questions was given to the group. Ninety-seven percent of the time, the group scores were higher than those of the best individuals of the group.

Fact: The critical element of the collaborative edge lies in the members’ relationship skills.

Key skills for collaborative efforts include: having strong interpersonal skills, having at least one member with high-IQ (necessary but not sufficient), and having members committed to the goals of the group. (Source: “Working with Emotional Intelligence”, by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.)

Living in the competitive atmosphere of the modern business world can blind businesses to an important fact: cooperation is critical to survival. While we focus on outdoing our competitors, we must also keep an eye out for opportunities to increase collaboration.

Cooperation is the hallmark of human success. No other living species depends on group collaboration as much as humans. We have succeeded as a species because we have depended on each other. Protection from predators or extremes of weather have been devised and constructed by cooperation among teams of workers. An abundance of food supplies is created by a partnership of growers, machine builders, transporters and vendors who support huge numbers of individuals who do not grow their own food. Even our knowledge system, passed on from individual to individual and from generation to generation is a monument to the capacity for collaborative effort among humans. Examples of cooperation are so prevalent in our lives that we often 
overlook them.

Collaborative efforts have many names: teamwork, strategic alignments, partnerships or networking, to list a few. When we cooperate, we create a “win-win” situation where both parties benefit. Businesses, like the larger human community, cannot prosper without such alliances.

Here are some essentials for creating effective and productive partnerships:

1.  Reach out to make connections. Collaborating on common projects, identifying resources, and supporting each other is an investment in our future.

2. Remember to balance focus on tasks with attention to relationships. Relationships will outlast  the current task. Longevity in business is dependent on effective building of cooperative relationships.

3. Share plans, information, and resources. This expands your status; it does not diminish your value.  In the information age, those who provide valuable information are precious assets.

4. Model the qualities you want to receive. If you want to be respected, you must show respect. This is a variation of the golden rule. 

5. Discuss the common goals of the group. Discuss them frequently. Keep the common vision in awareness constantly.

6. Share credit. We are not successful by ourselves. Make sure to tell those who contribute to your success how valuable they are.

If you would like to asses your emotional intelligence, consider taking the MSCEIT. This test is a scientifically developed and validated assessment of how well the individual taking the test 1) manages emotions, 2) understands his or her own emotions, 3) is able to use emotion in effective interpersonal interactions, and 4) recognizes the emotional response of others.  This test can be administered on site in Southeastern Wisconsin or online any where in the world. For more information contact us at (262) 789-2728 or by email at: mailto:ldahlke@psychologyforbusiness.com.

About the Author

John Weaver, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist with 22 years’ professional experience working with organizations, groups, and individuals. He has experience leading groups and creating teamwork in organizations. His areas of expertise include executive coaching, conflict resolution, coaching teams and individuals to improve performance under stress, assessing employees and potential employees to ensure the right person for the right job, and training in stress management and "The Vitamin C’s for an Emotionally Healthy Workplace."  He is an experienced professional speaker and published author.

Based in Waukesha, WI, Dr. John Weaver is available for consultation or executive coaching by phone, e-mail or in person. He may be reached at (262) 789-2728 (office) or (414) 491-8719 (cell), by e-mail: mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com or: 

John Weaver, Psy.D. 
Psychology for Business
2717 North Grandview Boulevard, Suite 303
Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Coach is now available for download by visiting http://www.psychologyforbusiness.com/questions.htm.

Also receive your copy of 9 Ways to Motivate Your Workforce by visiting http://www.psychologyforbusiness.com/motivate.htm. 

If you are interested in having Dr. Weaver speak for your organization, contact him at mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com?subject=SPEAK .

To order your copy of the book, MANAGING DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES IN THE WORKPLACE: A Manager’s Practical Guide, by Dr. Paul Kenneth Glass, send your name, address, number of copies desired and a check made out to Dr. Paul Kenneth Glass for $12 per book (plus $2 shipping per book).  Or order 10 or more copies for $10 per book and $6.95 for shipping (up to 50 copies).  No fluff, this book gets right to the point. Send orders to:

To subscribe visit us at our website: http://www.psychologyforbusiness.com/.  If you would like to learn more about Dr. John Weaver (mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com), Dr. Lynda Dahlke (mailto:ldahlke@psychologyforbusiness.com), and Dr. Paul Glass (mailto:pglass@psychologyforbusiness.com) please visit us at our website.

© Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. John Weaver. Distribution rights: The above material is copyrighted, but you may retransmit or distribute it to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact information. If you would like to reprint part of this newsletter please contact me at mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com to make arrangements.

Sharing this newsletter with colleagues and friends, under these conditions, is encouraged.

If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered, send your request to mailto:jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com.

Dr. John Weaver publishes another newsletter, co-authored by Darlene Weaver, THE CENTERED PENDULUM.  It is our firm belief that lifelong patterns of “being” (personality, attitudes, emotions) and “doing” (lifestyle, adaptability, coping skills) interact with our genes and environment to create conditions of a healthy or a diseased brain.  If you would like to read previous issues of the Centered Pendulum newsletter or to subscribe, please visit the archives at http://www.centeredpendulum.org/newsletters.htm.