PART II

PLAYING THE GAME

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

—Albert Einstein

Most people are familiar with the expression “six degrees of separation.” Six degrees popularly conveys the theory that we are all only six degrees, or six relationships, away from anybody else. (We’ve heard it said jokingly within the Black community that our degrees of separation are two!) Regardless of the exact number, we believe it is intuitively obvious to conclude that our degree of separation is going down as time progresses. So, despite the fact there are 6.7 billion people on planet Earth, “it’s a small world after all,” as the old children’s song suggests.

As a result of globalization, the proliferation of technological advances, and increasing societal diversity, our world is becoming more connected every day. These three trends have implications for today’s African Americans, who have changed the game significantly, compared to the experiences of those who began their careers in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Three Trends in a More Interconnected World

The United States is becoming increasingly diverse. More than one-quarter of the population now consists of Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, these so-called “minorities” will make up a majority of the U.S. population by 2050. Minorities are projected to become the majority of the population in Texas within the next decade, and in New York and Florida within the next twenty years. They already make up a majority of the population of California (60 percent).

The proliferation of mobile phones and PDAs, wired and wireless Internet devices, high-definition television, and other technological developments have transformed the way people live and interact. Not only have we witnessed many technology innovations, we have also adopted technologies at a faster rate over time. Compare the number of years it has taken various technologies to be used by 25 percent of the U.S. population:

Source: The Book of Knowledge, Merrill Lynch, 1999.

Technology, whether we like it or not, is enmeshed in the human experience. E-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, and social media—blogs, social and professional networking websites, and wikis—are allowing us to become more interconnected than ever before. Looking ahead, it is safe to assume that we will adopt newer technologies at even faster rates.

Finally, globalization has different meanings to different people. It can refer to interconnected markets for goods and services across national borders and seas. It can mean greater contact with other cultures resulting from fewer travel restrictions, technological links, and media exposure. It also can represent the increased flow of data and information across the globe. But no matter what words you use to describe it, there is no denying that our world continues to move toward a more global society.

In light of these trends, “playing the game” in the twenty-first century is about two things: (1) establishing your own level of connectedness, or building meaningful, productive, and mutually supportive relationships that are global and diverse, and (2) leveraging those relationships to effectively navigate your game while also helping other like-minded people to do the same. Naturally, navigating your game—that is, your professional landscape (i.e., the environment comprising your organization, industry, and sector)—can and must be accomplished by leveraging societal diversity, utilizing information technology and social media, and acknowledging the influence of globalization.

Relationship building, which can ultimately lead to connectedness, represents the transition from learning the game (Part I) to playing the game (Part II) and from independence to interdependence.

Relationship Building: The Power of Connectedness

One of the books that had a significant influence on us while at Rutgers was Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Simon & Schuster, 1990). In his book, Covey writes (emphasis ours):

The techniques and skills that really make a difference in human interaction are the ones that almost naturally flow from a truly independent character. So the place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside … our own character. As we become independent—proactive, centered in correct principles, value driven and able to organize and execute around the priorities in our life with integrity—we then can choose to become interdependent —capable of building rich, enduring, highly productive relationships with other people.… Independence is an achievement. Interdependence is a choice only independent people can make.

The strategies covered in Part I of our book set the stage for Part II, because true relationship building begins within yourself first. More specifically, establishing a strong identity and purpose (Strategy 1), seeking growth opportunities beyond your comfort zone (Strategy 2), and demonstrating a level of excellence or self-mastery (Strategy 3) can lead to independence. An independent person is then better able to form the valuable bonds that lead to interdependence.

As illustrated in Figure II–1, all three strategies in Part II: Playing the Game represent roads that lead to the strategies in Part III: Mastering the Game. Pay close attention to the next three strategies—building diverse and solid relationships, seeking the wisdom of others, and finding strength in numbers—but also keep in mind where we are heading. Relationships signify the basic construct for several concepts introduced in Part III, such as intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship. Relationships between people and between organizations also enable synergy and scale, which are important concepts that come into play in Part IV: Redefining the Game.

As we have done throughout this book, Part II will continue to draw upon our knowledge and experience to bring these strategies to life. However, we will also draw more heavily upon the knowledge and experience of others that we regard as pioneers in relationship building, including George Fraser, Stephen Covey, Robert Putnam, and others. This approach enables us to provide the fundamentals of networking and relationship building in a way that combines tried-and-true, “old school” principles with “new school” strategies that can help you to effectively play the game.

Figure II–1. Relationship-building strategies are central to playing and mastering the game.

Playing the Game: Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

Relationships are the ties that bind us and lead to a fulfilling personal and professional life. They are the cornerstone of playing the game, because there is little that can be accomplished in life without working with other people. Accordingly, the next three strategies discuss relationships from a number of perspectives.

Strategy 4 covers the foundation of relationships: building meaningful ties with diverse people and leveraging the power of networking. Strategy 5 discusses the value of seeking the wisdom of others through various developmental relationships, including mentors and protégés. Finally, in Strategy 6, we present our conceptualization of “strength in numbers” and how it manifests itself across a continuum of group relationships, including teams, partnerships, and organizations. As you will see, Strategy 4 relationships are the facilitators of the mutual exchange of wisdom we describe early in Strategy 5, and they represent the building blocks for the collaborative action we discuss in the latter part of Strategy 6. In other words, the recurring theme throughout Part II: Playing the Game is relationships, relationships, and relationships.