Collaboration is increasingly difficult and increasingly necessary.Often, to get something done that really matters to us, we need to work with people we don’t agree with or like or trust. Adam Kahane has faced this challenge many times, working on big issues like democracy and jobs and climate change and on everyday issues in organizations and families. He has learned that our conventional understanding of collaboration—that it requires a harmonious team that agrees on where it’s going, how it’s going to get there, and who needs to do what—is wrong. Instead, we need a new approach to collaboration that embraces discord, experimentation, and genuine cocreation—which is exactly what Kahane provides in this groundbreaking and timely book. 
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In today’s complex and interconnected world, collaboration is more crucial than ever. However, working with others who may not share our views or values can be challenging. ‘Collaborating with the Enemy’ by Adam Kahane offers a groundbreaking approach to overcoming these obstacles and achieving meaningful results.

Kahane, an experienced collaborator on big issues like democracy, jobs, and climate change, argues that our conventional understanding of collaboration is flawed. Instead of requiring a harmonious team, effective collaboration demands embracing discord, experimentation, and genuine co-creation. By adopting this new approach, individuals and organizations can tackle even the most intransigent problems.

Who Is This For?

This book is ideal for anyone who needs to work with others who may not see eye-to-eye, whether in business, government, or personal life. It is particularly relevant for leaders, managers, and individuals seeking to drive positive change in their organizations or communities.

Bottom Line

‘Collaborating with the Enemy’ provides a timely and practical guide to achieving collaboration in a complex and often contentious world. By applying Kahane’s principles, readers can learn to navigate difficult landscapes and achieve meaningful results, even when working with those they may not agree with or trust.

  • Offers practical guidance for how to work with diverse others, which is a precondition for confronting many of the complex challenges we face.Morris Rosenberg, President, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
  • Collaboration is increasingly difficult and increasingly necessary.Often, to get something done that really matters to us, we need to work with people we dont agree with or like or trust. Adam Kahane has faced this challenge many times, working on big issues like democracy and jobs and climate change and on everyday issues in organizations and families. He has learned that our conventional understanding of collaborationthat it requires a harmonious team that agrees on where its going, how its going to get there, and who needs to do whatis wrong. Instead, we need a new approach to collaboration that embraces discord, experimentation, and genuine cocreationwhich is exactly what Kahane provides in this groundbreaking and timely book.
  • Kahane shows that people who dont see eye-to-eye really can come together to solve big challenges. Whether in our businesses, our governments, our communities, or our personal lives, we can all benefit from this smart and timely book.Mark Tercek, former President, The Nature Conservancy and coauthor of
  • Natures Fortune
  • Shows us how thinking and seeing differently can help us navigate this challenging landscape. Kahane abandons orthodoxy in taking on the most intransigent problems, showing us the path to effective action in a complex world.James Gimian, coauthor of
  • The Rules of Victory
  • Collaborating with the Enemy
  • belongs on the same shelf as Sun Tzus
  • The Art of War
  • and Machiavellis
  • The Prince
  • .Stephen Huddart, President, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
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