1Be a Global Connector
2Take Action
Become a better connector by increasing the variety of people you connect with: Attend conferences outside of your professional specialty; blog or email people about ideas or trends outside of your organization; and make an effort to meet up with competitors, consumers or contacts that aren’t directly relevant to your immediate job demands, recommend Ibarra and Hansen.
3Favor a Collaborative Business Style
4Take Action
5Engage Talent at the Periphery
6Take Action
7Start at the Top
8Take Action
9Beware: Static Groups Breed Insularity
Hansen and Ibarra offer the example of Nokia’s former executive team as (ouch) what not to do. All Finns who had worked together for a decade-plus, the homogeneity of the group is pointed to as a possible reason that they failed to see the rise of smartphones—a trend they were too slow to jump on—which has been their undoing.
10Take Action
11Remember: Nationality Isnt the Only Kind of Diversity That Matters
12Make a Shift Toward Learning Goals vs. Performance Goals
13Take Action
14Show a Strong Hand
15Take Action
16Loosen Control Without Losing It
17Remember the Difference a Difference Can Make
Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff noted that his top management was disconnected from workers who had critical knowledge of customers. He decided to invite the whole company to participate in an executive event, using Chatter. While it got off to an awkward start, it ultimately made for a better event and helped to create a more open and “empowered” corporate culture.
18Take Action
Today’s hyper-connected world needs a new playbook: Don’t let fears of a misstep prevent you from moving forward.