Superconnectors
We live in a time in which the convergence of globalization, environmental degradation, poverty, and emerging markets is driving companies, governments and non-profits to realize the limits of their individual influence. Solving problems created by complex, interdependent systems is beyond the scope of any one player alone.
These shared social and environmental challenges are encouraging leaders to seek the expertise of a diverse range of players from across industries and across the world. Facilitating this level of collaboration is critical to achieving large-scale sustainable impact and catalyzing large-scale change.
Superconnection is a system of ideas around collaboration and partnerships that supersedes standard models of networking. It is a theory of opportunity-focused strategy and partnerships. Facilitating these transactional networks, Superconnectors drive collaboration by creating permissive environments for the exploration of tangible opportunities through unconventional partnerships.
Sitting at the genesis of innovation, Superconnection is essential to informing how we approach ideas, and how we deal with the intricate challenge of putting them into action.
Partnerships, Collaboration, Innovation
The language of partnerships is endemic in the sustainability sector, fashionable in the business world, and is the rhetorical mainstay of both government agencies and non-profits. A recent survey of 1,100 top CEOs revealed that 55% now believe that innovation is intimately linked to extensive partnering. A simple Google search of 'Obama' and 'Partnerships' throws up 3.9 million hits.
The paradox of partnerships, however, is that everybody talks about them, but very few people can actually do them well. This is the fundamental problem with the contemporary approach to collaboration: acceptance in rhetoric, but tenacity in practice. Embracing the language of collaboration is not enough; designing and implementing strategies is critical to ensuring sustainable and opportunity focused partnerships.
This manuscript is an attempt to chart the methodology of Superconnection, and project its potential. The resulting road map will will address the following issues:
- What is the history and evolution of human connectivity?
- Who are ‘Superconnectors’ and how do they do it?
- What is it to connect? The movement of creativity, capital, capacity and credibility?
- Learning from the Superconnectors; defining the parameters of Superconnection, and learning what differentiates a Superconnector from a networker.
- What is the ‘secret sauce’; how does one Superconnect?
- What are the rules and principles, what are the strategies for true 'Superconnection'?
- Can you teach Superconnected thinking?
- What is the role of technology in Superconnection?
- What are the opportunities for Superconnectors in a globalized world?
- What are the risks of not Superconnecting?
- What are the challenges we face that require the Superconnector mindset?
- How do you recognize and take advantage of the Superconnected opportunity?
- How do you deploy a new generation of strategic and connected systems solutions?
