| Now you may ask, "Where is the link?" How could | | | | strategy, yet, it is often overlooked or |
| chimpanzees and mastermind groups possibly be | | | | underplayed. Without it, one could not hope to |
| linked to each other? And how are they supposed | | | | survive in the rough and tumble of the business |
| to influence you? Before I attempt to answer the | | | | world. It is the means by which success is |
| question though, allow me to share with you a | | | | achieved, usually in a win-win scenario. For you to |
| little background on the behavioural nature of | | | | implement the power of masterminding into your |
| chimpanzees. | | | | business in order to succeed, you need to be like |
| In a study conducted at the Ngamba Island | | | | the chimpanzees, that is, to know how to |
| Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, chimpanzees | | | | collaborate with others to serve your needs and |
| were required to pull two ends of a rope which | | | | how to be a good collaborator in order to have |
| dragged a tray of food towards them. Both ends | | | | people flocking to you the next time round. |
| of the rope had to be pulled at the same time or | | | | In order for you to master the skills of |
| the rope would simply be pulled out. It was | | | | collaboration, you need to know your objective, |
| observed that the chimpanzees only allowed a | | | | your end-point, where you want your business to |
| partner into the room (by opening their door) | | | | be within a specific timeframe, then go and work |
| when the ends of the rope were too far apart | | | | on it. Without the goal, success is usually never in |
| for them to pull on their own. Also, an interesting | | | | sight. Once you have drawn up your objective, |
| fact to note is that during the secound round of | | | | recognise what you need and select the person |
| experiments, the chimpanzees unanimously | | | | whose expertise offered best suits them. As |
| selected the more effective partner to help them | | | | seen in the case of the study on the |
| pull the rope. | | | | chimpanzees, it is vital to find the right person |
| What does this study tell us about chimpanzees? | | | | otherwise the effort will all be in vain. |
| It tells us that chimpanzees are smart animals. | | | | How do you arrive at this juncture then? Well, |
| They realise when they needed help in order to | | | | you need to be able to muster your courage and |
| help them achieve their objective (which is to get | | | | ask. Do not allow your ego to take over and |
| hold of the food) as well as the fact that they | | | | most important of all, do not be afraid to ask. |
| needed to go out there and ask for that help. | | | | You never know what the outcome will be unless |
| They understood why and how they needed their | | | | you actually allow the other party to learn of your |
| partners and went about seeking partners for | | | | intention. Speak up. Convey your thoughts with |
| that sole purpose. Hence, we gathered that | | | | clarity and purpose. Explain to that person exactly |
| chimpanzees knew their roles, that of their | | | | what you need and why you think he/she is able |
| partners and therefore went about choosing who | | | | to plug the gap and be the final piece of the |
| they wanted to work with. | | | | jigsaw. Be polite and not be too expectant. The |
| The last characteristic is the most powerful of | | | | other party has the right to turn you down. In |
| them all and is what we would like to highlight | | | | that case, thank the person for his/her time and |
| today. During the first round of the experiment, | | | | continue your search. Do not be discouraged. |
| the chimpanzees already noted who the weaker | | | | However, should that person turn out to be the |
| partner was and remembered him. Hence during | | | | one, you are looking at a potentially great |
| the second round, that chimpanzee was not | | | | partnership which could serve you and your |
| selected again. Instead, the chimpanzees selected | | | | business well for years to come! |
| the more effective one to help them achieve | | | | With that, I hope that the relationship between |
| their aims. The basic term used to describe it all is | | | | chimpanzees and mastermind groups has truly |
| "collaboration". It is the single most powerful tool in | | | | given you an insight into the power of |
| the principle of masterminding and is what we | | | | collaboration and that you will make use of it in |
| would like to emphasise here. | | | | your business through the power of |
| Collaboration is a very powerful business building | | | | masterminding to bring you even more success! |