Ask Yourself Whats In It For WE?

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford

"Individual commitment to a group effort, that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi

_______________________________________

"What's in it for WE?" is a question we ask ourselves. It is not a question we ask of other people. It reflects a way of thinking that affects nearly all of our relationships and interactions with other people. In this article, I will briefly address three points that illustrate the importance of "What's in it for WE?" thinking to leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.

1) Effective collaboration is one of the keys to your business/financial success.

I propose that few great things come from the efforts of only one person. Consider these great collaborations from the world of entertainment:

? Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

? Elton John and Bernie Taupin

? Paul McCartney and John Lennon

? Bud Abbot and Lou Costello.

How about these collaborations from the world of exploration:

? Capt Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

? Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

In business we can look to:

? Bill Gates and Paul Allen

? David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch

? James Smith McDonnell and Donald Wills Douglas

? William Proctor and James Gamble

? Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck.

Which of these people would have achieved the same level of success had they attempted to go it alone? I think few of them would have been as successful.

2) How you think determines how others react to you.

People know how you are thinking about them because your thinking impacts your word choice, your tone, and your body language. The better you get at focusing your thoughts on mutual benefit, the more your words, tone and body language will reflect that thinking. As your external behaviors reflect more "What's in it for WE?" thinking, people will be more receptive to working collaboratively with you.

3) If you ask the wrong question, you'll get the wrong answer.

This statement is the primary thought behind this article. I have heard this statement, or some variation of it, applied to sales training, conflict resolution, and communication training. In "QBQ!: The Question Behind The Question", John Miller discusses this statement as it applies to personal accountability. I hope you will apply it to your thinking regarding all of your interactions with other people.

There are two basic types of questions you can ask yourself when you work with others. You can ask yourself "What's in it for ME?" questions or "What's in it for WE?" questions.

"What's in it for ME?" questions focus on the benefit to you alone. They sound like:

? How can I get them to do business with me?

? How can I get people to refer other people to me?

? How can I sell them my product or service?

? Why don't they understand me?

? Why don't they listen to me?

? What's wrong with them?

? How can I get my employees to do what I want them to do?

? How can I get them to work harder?

? Why don't they get more done?

? Why aren't they helping me?

"What's in it for WE?" questions focus on mutual benefit. They sound like:

? How can I add value to this relationship?

? What can I do to help this person?

? Who do I know that can help this person?

? What can we do together that we can't do separately?

? How do we complement each other?

? How can I communicate my ideas more clearly?

? How do I make myself the kind of person that people want to follow?

As I said in the opening paragraph, "What's in it for WE?" is a question we ask ourselves that reflects a way of thinking about other people and our relationships with them. Learn to ask "What's in it for WE?" questions, and you will demonstrate "What's in it for WE?" behaviors. When you demonstrate "What's in it for WE?" behaviors, you will form mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships. These relationships will then form the foundation for your success.

Remember to ask yourself - "What's in it for WE?"

Copyright 2005, Guy Harris

About the Author:

Guy Harris is the Chief Relationship Officer with Principle Driven Consulting. He helps entrepreneurs, business managers, and other organizational leaders build trust, reduce conflict, and improve team performance. Learn more at http://www.principledriven.com

Guy co-authored "The Behavior Bucks System TM" to help parents reduce stress and conflict with their children. Learn more about this book at http://www.behaviorbucks.com

Latest News


BBC News

Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management'
FOXNews - Jan 7, 2009
Also, the author of a new book — boy, is this timely — "Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide," Gary Berntsen ...
Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick AssociatedPress
Feinstein/Panetta: Senatorial Prerogative, "Intelligence ... Huffington Post
What Makes Someone Qualified to Serve? GovExec.com
Washington Post - San Jose Mercury News
all 2,546 news articles

CNET News

Ford touts its leadership in in-car connectivity
CNET News, CA - 2 hours ago
During his keynote address at CES Thursday, Ford CEO Alan Mulally--along with several other Ford executives--emphasized that the car giant is interested in ...
Ford Announces Plans for Continued In-Car Connectivity Leadership ... PR Newswire (press release)
Ford Sync Upgrade Brings Turn-By-Turn Navigation, Coming To Every ... Gizmodo
Ford to globalize its SYNC technologies and services - Update RTT News
all 249 news articles

Bleacher Report

Nuggets welcome Chauncey Billups' leadership
MLive.com, MI - 3 hours ago
But maybe most significant, he provides the kind of leadership that has catapulted the Nuggets to the top of the Northwest division standings. ...
Not just another game for Billups DetNews.com
Billups brings new attitude to Nuggets Rocky Mountain News
all 56 news articles

Boston Globe

Jason Giambi must add leadership to his job description with Athletics
Boston Herald, United States - 22 hours ago
After years of questioning the intangible value of clubhouse leadership, generally defining it as nothing more than a productive player, Billy sees the ...
Giambi, A's ready to give it another go San Francisco Chronicle
all 774 news articles

Conference urges leadership
News-Journal.com, TX - 2 hours ago
Yordanos Refu speaks to students Thursday during the Longview International Baccalaureate Schools Youth Leadership Conference at LeTourneau University in ...
LeTourneau hosts youth leadership conference KLTV
all 2 news articles

The Southern Ledger

State Rep optimistic about change in House leadership
Azle News, TX - 17 hours ago
However it came about, the change in leadership style is something Geren is looking forward to. Straus, he noted, possesses an impressive business resume ...
Relative newcomer rises to House leadership Waxahachie Daily Light
Straus has earned the House's vote of confidence San Antonio Express
House roles may shift for South Plains legislators LubbockOnline.com
Houston Chronicle - Dallas Morning News
all 763 news articles

Missouri's senior starters figuring out leadership role
Columbia Missourian, MO - 5 hours ago
One obvious problem for the Tigers was a lack of leadership. Once Illinois sprinted ahead of Missouri, there was no one to bring the team together or help ...

World Financial Group Names Edward Mylett to Help Direct Field ...
MSNBC - Jan 7, 2009
resident and WFG Executive Vice Chairman Edward Mylett has accepted the newly created position of Director of Field Leadership. ...

A matter of leadership style?
Muncie Star Press, IN - 44 minutes ago
His confrontational leadership style, described as "shoot first and ask questions later," has been called into question, and has offended some long-time ...

Fiat Maintains Vehicle Sales Leadership In 2008 In Brazil
CNNMoney.com - 19 hours ago
SAO PAULO -(Dow Jones)- Italian automaker Fiat SpA (FIAZY) maintained its leadership position as Brazil's top seller in 2008, according to figures released ...

Resources


    Sorry Currently Unavailable