Collaborative Intelligence: Thinking with People Who Think Differently

"We are living in a hinge time when the way that we think, interact, and innovate at work is rapidly changing. In the past, "Marketshare" companies dominated, ruled by hierarchy and top-down leadership. Today, the new market leaders are "Mindshare" companies, where influence is more important than power and success relies on collaboration and the ability to inspire. Markova and McArthur believe that the key to collaborating effectively with our colleagues is respecting "intellectual diversity," the ways we think and process information differently. Each of us brings unique and varied thinking talents to the table, and when we understand intellectual diversity, we can come together like a symphony orchestra. Through fascinating exercises and revealing case studies, readers discover their own unique "Mind Patterns" and "Thinking Talents," and learn how to recognize the same in their colleagues. Collaborative Intelligence is the culmination of over 35 years of original research and draws upon Markova's background in neuroscience and her work as a "thinking partner" to Fortune 500 CEOs and some of the world's top creative talents. It is essential reading for anyone who works as part of a team, who manages others, or simply wants to better understand how people think"--
A report on modern practices in collaborative thinking explores the potential of intellectual diversity, sharing case studies on how the respective approaches of contrasting colleagues has enabled unprecedented levels of innovation and marketing influence.
A breakthrough book on the transformative power of collaborative thinkingCollaborative intelligence, or CQ, is a measure of our ability to think with others on behalf of what matters to us all. It is emerging as a new professional currency at a time when the way we think, interact, and innovate is shifting. In the past, “market share” companies ruled by hierarchy and topdown leadership. Today, the new market leaders are “mind share” companies, where influence is more important than power, and success relies on collaboration and the ability to inspire.Collaborative Intelligence is the culmination of more than fifty years of original research that draws on Dawna Markova’s background in cognitive neuroscience and her most recent work, with Angie McArthur, as a “Professional Thinking Partner” to some of the world’s top CEOs and creative professionals. Markova and McArthur are experts at getting brilliant yet difficult people to think together. They have been brought in to troubleshoot for Fortune 500 leaders in crisis and managers struggling to inspire their teams.When asked about their biggest challenges at work, Markova and McArthur’s clients all cite a common problem:other people. This response reflects the way we have been taught to focus on the gulfs between us rather than valuing our intellectual diversity—that is, the ways in which each of us is uniquely gifted, how we process information and frame questions, what kind of things deplete us, and what engages and inspires us. Through a series of practices and strategies, the authors teach us how to recognize our own mind patterns and map the talents of our teams, with the goal of embarking together on an aligned course of action and influence.In Markova and McArthur’s experience, managers who appreciate intellectual diversity will lead their teams to innovation; employees who understand it will thrive because they are in touch with their strengths; and an entire team who understands it will come together to do their best work in a symphony of collaboration, their individual strengths working in harmony like an orchestra or a high-performing sports team.Praise for Collaborative Intelligence“Rooted in the latest neuroscience on the nature of collaboration, Collaborative Intelligence celebrates the power of working and thinking together at the highest levels of business and politics, and in the smallest aspects of our everyday lives. Dawna Markova and Angie McArthur show us that our ability to collaborate is not only a measure of intelligence, but essential to solving the world’s problems and seeing the possibilities in ourselves and others.”—Arianna Huffington“This inspiring book teaches you how to align your intention with the intention of others, and how, through shared strengths and talents, you have every right to expect greatness and set the highest goals and expectations.”—Deepak Chopra“Everyone talks about collaboration today, but the rhetoric typically outweighs the reality.Collaborative Intelligence offers tangible tools for those serious about becoming ‘system leaders’ who can close the gap and make collaboration real.”—Peter M. Senge, author ofThe Fifth Discipline“Building collaborative intelligence by putting the concepts in this book into action with my executive team was one of the most critical variables to our success.”—Jeff Dunn, CEO, Bolthouse Farms