One of the most powerful qualities of a strong and healthy I-You connection is the awareness it it gives us about our own unconscious projections. By clearly and honestly reflecting our behaviour and intentions, it helps us to form more robust perspectives on our situations and potential opportunities.

However in many leadership teams, obsequious I-I connections are often substituted for genuine I-You connections. In an I-I connection, there is none of the debate, dissent and drama of an authentic I-You connection. Instead, there is an echoed repeitition of a single individual’s perspective.

This single individual is usually the leader of the group, and instead of challenging his or her perspective, the executive minions end up just repeating viewpoints and regurgitating dogma. Although this may seem to create a coherent group inspired by a single vision, it usually promotes a monoculture of yes men and women who are constantly affirming ‘Aye aye’ to their captain of industry.

The old adage ‘Two heads are better than one’ still holds great value in the context of an I-You connection. However, in an I-I connection, it usually results in behaviour like Zaphod Beeblebrox, who shut off parts of his mind that he felt were not presidential enough.