Interaction Associations Releases Major Analysis on Leadership and Collaboration

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- The leading innovator in leadership development, collaboration methods, and performance improvement solutions -- Interaction Associates (IA) -- is out with a major look at how collaborative leadership is a key driver of innovation and value creation in business today.

"We are busting the myths of collaboration and showing how collaborative leadership companies get strong results, become more innovative, and drive profits," said Linda Dunkel, President and CEO of Interaction Associates. "Collaboration is at the core of a fundamental shift for many companies and it's vital that people know what collaboration is, and isn't. We've taught people how to collaborate and build collaborative work cultures for nearly forty years," said Dunkel.

Interaction Associates is out with a new white paper on the topic, titled Leading in the Collaborative Organization: How Collaboration Drives Innovation and Value Creation in Today's Corporations. The paper is co-authored by Linda Dunkel and Interaction Associates consulting partner, Christine Arena, author of the new groundbreaking book exploring successful CSR strategy, The High-Purpose Company.

Collaboration is at the core of a huge shift in business today, from traditionally hierarchical companies to flexible, nimble, and often matrixed organizations. It's also emerging as a key ingredient at many of the most innovative and successful companies in the world.

"More and more leaders are rejecting the common myths of collaboration and benefiting from the enormous power of a collaborative leadership style," added Dunkel. "The common myths are that collaboration slows everything down; makes leaders soft or weak; can't be taught; and that it can't be sustained throughout an organization. They are all untrue when collaboration is approached in a strategic way, and we show how in this paper," said Dunkel.

In her new book, The High-Purpose Company, Christine Arena explores how corporate responsibility is helping to drive innovation and profits at many of the world's top companies. Arena's research shows how collaboration is at the core of that success at numerous companies -- including Eileen Fisher, IKEA, and Patagonia. Each of those companies is examined in the new IA white paper on collaborative leadership.

"My research for The High-Purpose Company clearly defined a link between collaboration, innovation, and CSR strategy success," said Arena. "We show again and again that a collaborative culture at high-purpose companies drives positive results in innovation and for increasing profit," adds Arena.

To download the Interaction Associates white paper on the power of collaboration Click Here (https://www2.interactionassociates.com/html/pdf/IA_Leading_in_the_Collab_Organization.pdf)

About Interaction Associates

Interaction Associates, Inc. is a leading global innovator in learning, leadership development, collaboration and performance improvement solutions for Fortune 1000 companies. The firm has offices in Cambridge, MA and San Francisco. For nearly 40 years, IA has helped clients focus on the people side of their business through leadership development, coaching, and performance improvement solutions. More information at: Interaction Associates (http://www.interactionassociates.com).

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