Psychology Consciousness Studies

True Partnership, Revolutionary Thinking About Relating to

by Carl Zaiss Review by David Lorimer, April 2003

Published: 2002
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc
Format: Paperback
Pages: 135 pp.
ISBN: 9781576751664

Publisher’s description

"We are all capable of producing more than we typically do. The very nature of our relationships undermines individual and organizational effectiveness." With this uncompromising statement, author Carl Zaiss takes us on an inspiring journey that opens the door to unprecedented levels of individual and organizational performance. Written for today's complex business arena and rapidly changing world, True Partnership - Revolutionary Thinking About Relating To Others, presents an in-depth look at this mind-altering new perspective for moving beyond the issues and constraints we all face as individuals and groups. It provides a provocative and spellbinding look at how what we take for granted actually sabotages our efforts at improving our own effectiveness and the productivity of the businesses, institutions, and organizations to which we belong. True Partnership exposes the personal, organizational, and social costs of "the drift." The instinctive and taken-for-granted way of relating limits our effectiveness. The book exposes the four mistaken beliefs that form the drift and keep us from building productive relationships: seeing ourselves as separate and autonomous, relating to others through power and control, having an either/or mentality, and seeing the world as fixed and predetermined. Without distinguishing these four characteristics of the drift, they become our blind spot and sabotage any attempt at improving our effectiveness. One of the common strategies for improving our ability to live and work together is to build a partnership. It refers to a relationship between people with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. Yet, most of what we call partnership is not and most partnerships do not access what is really possible. Due to the drift - the underlying nature of our relationships - our partnerships are often superficial and cosmetic. True Partnership presents a new perspective, a new context, for our relationships generated by a fundamental shift in the way we, as individuals see the world. True partnership is a state of mind, not a type of relationship. It is a framework of relating to others that has an impact on each and every interaction. The four principles of true partnership include: seeing ourselves as interdependent parts of the whole, connecting to others through communication, operating from a both/and mentality, and relating to our world as observer-created. True Partnership provides access to highly effective relationships and extraordinary levels of performance. This book challenges people to rethink their basic assumptions and adopt a revolutionary new mindset about their relationships and how they go about producing results at work and at home. True Partnership is a powerful tool for anyone concerned about improving individual and organizational excellence.

This is a business book with a difference - it puts the quality of relationships centre stage. The author identifies four mistaken or limiting beliefs that we can transform: from autonomy to interdependence, from power to connection, from either-or to both-and and from determinism to co-creation. Each of these areas is examined in detail with case histories from the author's experience. The principles of true partnership can be applied to all areas of business and life - and indeed are sorely needed in international relations. Zaiss provides helpful tables of how the normal configuration - which he calls 'the drift' - compares with a true partnership approach; and there is a corresponding move from debate to dialogue. Well worth reflecting and acting on.

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