Power of 2

About the Author

Rodd Wagner is a New York Times best-selling author and principal at Gallup. His works focus on how human nature impacts business strategy. With a background in consulting and writing, Wagner has influenced numerous industries by advising senior executives on strengthening partnerships, enhancing employee engagement, and boosting profitability. His other notable work, 12: The Elements of Great Managing, is an international bestseller.

Gale Muller, Ph.D., serves as vice chairman and general manager of the Gallup World Poll. Overseeing research in more than 150 countries, Muller has collaborated with key clients across various sectors, including automotive, entertainment, telecommunications, healthcare, and broadcasting. His expertise in global research contributes significantly to understanding human behavior in business contexts.

Main Idea

Power of 2 emphasizes the unparalleled achievements that can be realized through effective partnerships. The book explores why some collaborations thrive while others falter, uncovering eight critical elements that underpin successful teamwork. Wagner and Muller assert that although modern technology connects us, genuine collaboration is often lacking. The essence of their message is that true partnerships can lead to accomplishments that individuals cannot achieve alone. Through detailed analysis and compelling examples, they demonstrate how complementary strengths, shared missions, fairness, trust, acceptance, forgiveness, communication, and unselfishness are integral to thriving collaborations.

Table of Contents

1. Complementary Strengths
2. A Common Mission
3. Fairness
4. Trust
5. Acceptance
6. Forgiveness
7. Communicating
8. Unselfishness

Complementary Strengths

Successful partnerships are built on complementary strengths. Wagner and Muller use the analogy of an oxyacetylene torch to illustrate this point. Just as oxygen and acetylene alone are impressive but together create an intense heat capable of melting steel, partners with complementary strengths can achieve remarkable results.

"The best partnerships happen when you and someone who has strengths that complement yours join forces and focus on a single goal." - Wagner and Muller

Recognizing and leveraging each other's strengths while acknowledging and compensating for each other's weaknesses is crucial. This requires a deep understanding of one's abilities and a genuine appreciation for what the partner brings to the table. Successful partners avoid the trap of ego and credit-seeking, focusing instead on promoting each other's abilities.

Complementary strengths mean that your abilities and those of your partner are not identical but rather fit together like pieces of a puzzle. For example, one person might excel at strategic thinking while the other is great at execution. This combination allows the partnership to cover more ground effectively and efficiently.

Complementary Strengths

• Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary combining mountaineering skills to conquer Everest.
• Karl Malone and John Stockton's synergy on the basketball court.
• Michael Eisner and Frank Wells' collaborative leadership at Disney.

A Common Mission

For a partnership to thrive, it must be driven by a common mission. This shared goal aligns the efforts and motivations of both partners. While individual reasons for pursuing the mission may differ, the collective focus remains on the shared objective. Wagner and Muller stress the importance of passing work between partners and doubling up on tasks that neither could achieve alone.