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Pulling on the same end of the rope
Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce
President’s Report
By Dave Struthers
It was very encouraging to hear the regional business and government leaders that participated in the panel discussion at the recent chamber luncheon recognize the need for greater collaboration within the East Kootenay.
While most of the discussion focused on the benefits of a regional approach to economic development, adopting a collaborative approach to planning and decision making creates unique opportunities to get business, government and social sector leaders “pulling on the same end of the rope” in order to address many of the pressing challenges facing society.
So what exactly is collaboration, and how do we make it work here?
Collaboration is generally defined as a purposeful relationship in which all parties strategically choose to cooperate in order to accomplish a shared outcome. Making it work requires a different kind of leadership.
As was suggested during the chamber panel discussion, individual egos and the “what’s in it for me” mentality need to be parked outside the door, and the focus needs to be on successful delivery of results across boundaries and between different organizations.
Traditional management development paths do not prepare our political, business, and community readers very well for this approach. Collaboration requires managers to achieve success through people and resources outside their control; they have to learn to trust their partners to deliver, even though those partners may operate very differently from themselves.
Studies of successful models of collaboration across the business, government and social sectors suggest that this style of leadership requires five qualities: willingness to take risks; active and eager listening skills; passion for the cause; optimism about the future; and the ability to share knowledge, power and credit.
It’s refreshing to hear some of our regional leaders espousing these traits, and demonstrating willingness to pool resources in the best interests of the East Kootenay.
Through our ongoing advocacy and economic development efforts, and the synergies created through the strength of the chamber network both regionally and provincially, the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce has clearly demonstrated that we are a willing participant in this process, and feel we have a great deal to contribute.
Let’s roll up our sleeves, grab the same end of the rope and pull together!
