Collaboration is an approach to work that promotes integrated effort and improved results through the exchange of useful information, knowledge, know-how, and ideas.
There are “degrees” of collaboration. At one end of the continuum, collaboration can be viewed simply as improved sharing and exchange of information – better communication. At the other extreme – in its “ideal” form – collaboration is process of shared creation in which two or more individuals, with a common goal, interact to create a shared understanding or result that none had previously possessed or could have come to on their own.
Here’s the key . . .
Collaborative capability is critical because in today’s highly competitive business environment, people throughout organizations need to work together and share information in order to complete tasks, achieve goals, and provide products and services to customers.
Want to become more collaborative? Try this . . .
To develop and strengthen your ability to collaborate with peers and others at all levels of the organization and promote the development of a climate in which others will want to work collaboratively, too:
Start small.
- Find small ways to begin to collaborate to set the stage for engaging in bigger and more important collaborative activities later on. For example, run an agenda you are preparing by some of the people who will be attending a meeting before you distribute it to everybody.
- Ask those who receive your draft to review it for you and offer suggestions for improving it. Or see if one or two peers can review a memo you are writing and suggest how you can make it better.
- Ask one of your colleagues to listen in on a call you are making to give you feedback on improving your interpersonal communication skills on the phone.
Be proactive.
- Let people know you want to collaborate, and be proactive in offering assistance and input – and accepting it. For example, be willing to problem solve or brainstorm with others or to review something they have written and add relevant insights you can provide.
- Let people know you want to help—and when you do, show respect for their work and admire it as well as offer new and different ideas and suggestions.
Eliminate barriers.
- Always suggest collaboration—and actively seek to break down barriers between departments, units, customers and different levels in the organization.
- The future is likely to include healthy collaboration in a multitude of situations.
If you ask people to work collaboratively with you, help them to do it. Listen carefully to what they say, thank them for their input, and look for ways to act on and give credit for their ideas. These behaviors demonstrate that you really want to collaborate and that you value collaborative input and results.