Angie McArthur

A breakthrough book on the transformative power of collaborative thinking Collaborative intelligence, or CQ, is a measure of our ability to think with others on behalf of what matters to us all. It is emerging as a new professional currency at a time when the way we think, interact, and innovate is shifting. In the past, "market share" companies ruled by hierarchy and topdown leadership. Today, the new market leaders are "mind share" companies, where influence is more important than power, and success relies on collaboration and the ability to inspire. Collaborative Intelligence is the culmination of more than fifty years of original research that draws on Dawna Markova's background in cognitive neuroscience and her most recent work, with Angie McArthur, as a "Professional Thinking Partner" to some of the world's top CEOs and creative professionals. Markova and McArthur are experts at getting brilliant yet difficult people to think together. They have been brought in to troubleshoot for Fortune 500 leaders in crisis and managers struggling to inspire their teams. When asked about their biggest challenges at work, Markova and McArthur's clients all cite a common problem: other people. This response reflects the way we have been taught to focus on the gulfs between us rather than valuing our intellectual diversity--that is, the ways in which each of us is uniquely gifted, how we process information and frame questions, what kind of things deplete us, and what engages and inspires us. Through a series of practices and strategies, the authors teach us how to recognize our own mind patterns and map the talents of our teams, with the goal of embarking together on an aligned course of action and influence. In Markova and McArthur's experience, managers who appreciate intellectual diversity will lead their teams to innovation; employees who understand it will thrive because they are in touch with their strengths; and an entire team who understands it will come together to do their best work in a symphony of collaboration, their individual strengths working in harmony like an orchestra or a high-performing sports team. Praise for Collaborative Intelligence "Rooted in the latest neuroscience on the nature of collaboration, Collaborative Intelligence celebrates the power of working and thinking together at the highest levels of business and politics, and in the smallest aspects of our everyday lives. Dawna Markova and Angie McArthur show us that our ability to collaborate is not only a measure of intelligence, but essential to solving the world's problems and seeing the possibilities in ourselves and others."--Arianna Huffington "This inspiring book teaches you how to align your intention with the intention of others, and how, through shared strengths and talents, you have every right to expect greatness and set the highest goals and expectations."--Deepak Chopra "Everyone talks about collaboration today, but the rhetoric typically outweighs the reality. Collaborative Intelligence offers tangible tools for those serious about becoming 'system leaders' who can close the gap and make collaboration real."--Peter M. Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline"I have worked with Markova and McArthur for several years, focusing on achieving better results through intellectual diversity. Their approach has encouraged more candid debate and collaborative behavior within the team. The team, not individuals, becomes the hero."--Al Carey, CEO, PepsiCo

DAWNA MARKOVA Ph. D. and ANGIE MCARTHUR are striving to revolutionize the way parents approach their children's education. A leading educator and psychologist, Dr. Markova noticed in her decades of work that parents tend to focus on correcting their children's weaknesses. But in this groundbreaking book based on the world-renowned SmartWired program that she co-founded with Angie, Dawna demonstrates a more effective strategy that centers on building a child's strengths. This approach not only helps children discover their passion and purpose in life but also instills in them a strong sense of self-worth - which in turn makes them highly motivated to learn. In Dawna's years as a teacher and with their work with SmartWired, Dawna and Angie came to understand that by recognizing and devel¬oping children's unique assets, parents can help them succeed not just in school but in life. They cite compelling anecdotes across all age groups and reveal practical strategies: the essential principles of the SmartWired approach to learning, the three kinds of attention the human brain uses, and the five categories of children's assets. Instead of focusing on what a child can't do, this book helps recognize and utilize all the ways a child is naturally brilliant. Along the way, you will discover how to: - identify and support your child's hidden talents - help your child make sound decisions with confidence - communicate on the same wavelength with your child for better mutual understanding - nurture your child's assets in partnerships with schools, mentors, coaches, and other resources.