I posted the Abele article with some commentary about the Collaboration Paradox some time ago, found here. I read something from Graham Douglas recently that looks at another paradox, or contributor to the same paradox. It is from his new Integrative Thinking Module.
Douglas spoke of the Will to Power and Will to Dependence (note: this link is to dependent personality disorder, which may be an extreme of the universal affinity) as conflicting innate social programming. You can look up his works for more, but my interpretation is below.
Our wills to power, excellence and animalism drives us to be independently successful, leaders of the pack. But because we are social animals, we also have this will to dependence, and the yearning to be a part of a family, team, or tribe.
How can we balance our wills to effectively collaborate with those experiencing the same internal conflict? If one individual with a strong will to power is in a position of power - which logically, they would instinctively gravitate towards - then how is that person challenged without making them with their programming feel that they are not threatened? How can that person or leader ensure that their team is candid and challenges them, when they may tend to see that person as the alpha personality that has a monopoly on excellence or answers?
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Andrew,
The short answer is through education and training as explained in the Modules to which you refer. When everyone in an organization knows what they have in common (basic needs reflected in their Wills) and how to balance those Wills through Integrative Thinking and its derivatives they will have a common basis for communication.
Graham Douglas
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