Business is based on the notion of competition. This limits it severely. It is a symptom of old times, an era rapidly fading. Business needs to move beyond competition to collaboration.

Think about a football game. There are two sides, both competing. Each one is trying to out-scheme and out-manoeuvre the other. Each is trying to be more cunning and less transparent. The goal? Annihilation of the other, albeit symbolically. The outcome? Victory at someone’s expense and a culture of violence, albeit symbolic, which is in some ways worse.

Now step back from the game and look at it more strategically, from above. Instead of seeing one team in red or one team in blue, you now see a stadium with both teams on the field. There is one field, one stadium, one game. One world.

All the people, the spectators, the customers, are all one. They are all in one place, watching one experience. The rivalry, the competition, which is the lowest level of the game, is clearly seen from above as collaboration. The two teams are collaborating and making the industry possible.

The money from ticket sales, the merchandising, the advertising, the television broadcasting and all the spin-offs are possible because the two teams have come together. Collaboration is the root of the success, not competition. Competition is just an illusion, a game people agree to play so that they can collaborate and benefit. The teams are really interdependent. Without the other, they each have nothing. With the other, they have a whole industry in which everyone profits. Of course, this goes unspoken, in case anyone admits out loud that there isn’t any need for all the fighting! Ah, the human race.

The more strategic you get, the more ridiculous competition becomes. The more strategic you get, the more intelligent you become. The ultimate strategy is wisdom, and the ultimate wisdom is union with all, oneness – the true nature of all things. Separation is an illusion. It comes from losing touch with the whole. It is hopelessly myopic and a one-way route to destruction. Competition is blinkered. Businesses who practice it are blind and not doing the species or the planet any good.

Collaboration is fraternal. The goal? Goals are short term, so there isn’t one. There are only ongoing intelligent partnerships collaborating in the interests of mutually beneficial outcomes. There are no losers. The methods are honest, not deceptive, and the results are prosperity for all, plus a healthier market and human race.

Recognise the ways in which you are already collaborating and find new ways to work together for real, sustainable success.

Robin Wheeler is the author of the INSIGHTS series of books.

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