When the original 13 colonies merged to form a single US nation the founding fathers adopted the motto E Pluribus Unum – out of the many, one.
Notwithstanding the challenges the US and all of us around the world face from division and polarisation isn’t this motto – which speaks so powerfully and inspiringly to unity – one we should all adopt and live by?
We are living in the age of collaboration or should be striving to build it each day with each action, in our personal communities and relationships and in our organisations (as well as nations) through our leadership.
True collaboration recognises that none of us can achieve solo what we can achieve together. It’s a reality I’ve been reminded of several times over the past few days, having to confront my tendency to go solo. It’s a habit I am working to rewire.
Reflecting on unity and collaboration also reminds us that everyone is vital, all have a part to play, a contribution to make. As Mother Teresa said: ‘We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.’
The ocean of humanity is 8.2 billion strong. That’s a whole lot of power to be released when each ‘drop’ is working in unity, in service of the greater good and a better world for all.
How’s your collaboration muscle working?