Smarter Business Thinking - transcending from competition to collaboration - Wes Hall

Don't Retire, Refire Podcast

In this episode Wes outlines his experience as an executive in a public company. Alf has known clients in similar positions who describe a culture of peer competition and combatants. Climbing the corporate ladder is more about not making mistakes, not taking risks, looking good, agreeing with leadership and taking credit for any progress that is made by your team. This common Australian corporate culture is often called "toxic" by business consultants. A natural consequence of this competitive environment is little innovation, lack of flexibility and suboptimal behaviour as evidence by the recent Royal commissions. Wes then goes on to talk about a far more cooperative and supportive culture which he first experienced in relationship to work in the USA. At first these experiences of support and help can be seen as having an altera motive, almost suspicious! However time has proven this to not have been the case. This environment is naturally more interesting, stimulating and innovative. You don’t have to look good all the time, and it’s ok to take risks and learn from both successes and failures. In fact this is the culture that Wes now talks about in his new company "Tomorrow super". Both Wes and Alf then postulate that a mindset of cooperation, rather than competition, could be a significant advantage to the unforeseen opportunities and challenges of the future.

Wes can be contacted at www.tommorowsuper.com.au