Smart Leaders, Smarter Teams: How You and Your Team Get Unstuck to Get Results

CHAPTER 3

Getting Unstuck to Get Results

The Mutual Learning Approach

When you’re operating from a unilateral control mindset, it can be hard to imagine any alternative. But very few leaders operate from unilateral control all the time. Most leaders also have—and sometimes use—another mindset that gets much better results. It’s called mutual learning. With practice, people generally find they are capable of using it even in very challenging situations when they previously used unilateral control. In short, it is possible to design a team to support and embody the mutual learning mindset.

Figure 3.1 shows the core values and assumptions that constitute the mutual learning mindset. Contrast it with Figure 2.1—the set for unilateral control.