The overused colloquialism "divide and conquer" is often misapplied. It most correctly means separating your enemies and isolating them, so they can be conquered more easily. (It's certainly works for lions). In recent years I have heard it applied as a kind of replacement to the old, "many hands make light work". But "dividing and conquering" in the work place doesn't always result in light work.
Many of the brightest business minds have tried to solve the problems created by being a large corporation. "Dividing and conquering" becomes a way of life, and functions become more and more isolated. Redundancy is rampant, and speed to market slows to a crawl.
Efforts to improve performance end up focusing so intensely on the process that few teams have the discipline to maintain a 360 view. Most teams are not being given time by management to actually take a look back and learn.
If I go to the store with someone and we split up the list so we can get it done more quickly, that is not dividing and conquering; it's actually working together for a common goal. But the reason it works is because we start together, and we end up together. And we trust that each of us is going to do what we agreed to. If this didn't happen, we'd leave the store with two of everything and none of something else.
Everybody with any REAL success knows that it is usually who you know that brings you the success you need. Real relationship goes beyond the casual "hello" and understands the needs and motives of the other person. (It is best to send the other shopper through the store to look for things they are familiar with, isn't it?) If a corporate work flow were applied to my shopping analogy, both of us would leave the store in separate vehicles and never talk again until the next shopping trip.
Communication or lack thereof is the key to success or failure. It's okay to advertise what you're doing frequently. When you are sick of saying it, they are just starting to catch on. So take the time needed to not only "get on the same page" but stay there. If you are not divided, you cannot be conquered.
Many of the brightest business minds have tried to solve the problems created by being a large corporation. "Dividing and conquering" becomes a way of life, and functions become more and more isolated. Redundancy is rampant, and speed to market slows to a crawl.
Efforts to improve performance end up focusing so intensely on the process that few teams have the discipline to maintain a 360 view. Most teams are not being given time by management to actually take a look back and learn.
If I go to the store with someone and we split up the list so we can get it done more quickly, that is not dividing and conquering; it's actually working together for a common goal. But the reason it works is because we start together, and we end up together. And we trust that each of us is going to do what we agreed to. If this didn't happen, we'd leave the store with two of everything and none of something else.
Everybody with any REAL success knows that it is usually who you know that brings you the success you need. Real relationship goes beyond the casual "hello" and understands the needs and motives of the other person. (It is best to send the other shopper through the store to look for things they are familiar with, isn't it?) If a corporate work flow were applied to my shopping analogy, both of us would leave the store in separate vehicles and never talk again until the next shopping trip.
Communication or lack thereof is the key to success or failure. It's okay to advertise what you're doing frequently. When you are sick of saying it, they are just starting to catch on. So take the time needed to not only "get on the same page" but stay there. If you are not divided, you cannot be conquered.
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