Meaningful Partnership at Work

Introduction

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.

Helen Keller

Two in a Canoe – a Metaphor of Partnership

All of us work with others. Sometimes those professional relationships are important enough that we call them a “partnership”. But what does partnership in the workplace really mean? What makes a handful of our partnerships exceptional while most mediocre, frustrating, or even a disaster? And why do these work partnerships matter so profoundly to our well-being and success, regardless of our level or role? Let's begin with a defining metaphor that we will refer to often.

Take a deep breath. Now imagine the following. You are in a canoe, on a calm quiet lake. Imagine you are with another person. One of you is up front, ...