One Word… Collaboration

Often, a single word or concept can make a huge difference for leaders and their organizations. Let’s take a look at a word that is certainly trending: Collaboration. Why all the fascination about an idea that has been around for so long? I don’t think the concept has changed; I…

A group of women in an office, sitting around a conference table, collaborating in a meeting

Often, a single word or concept can make a huge difference for leaders and their organizations.

Let’s take a look at a word that is certainly trending: Collaboration.

Why all the fascination about an idea that has been around for so long? I don’t think the concept has changed; I think the context has. Never before in history has information been more ubiquitous or the world moved at a more dizzying pace. These factors, combined with a more globally competitive landscape and increasing complexity, make this tried-and-true concept shine with relevance.

Collaboration may not be the most efficient way to work, but I believe it is the most effective.

Collaboration is a time-tested practice on the path to greater results. The concept is so elementary it doesn’t need much explanation or defense. If you can create the environment for men and women to pool their experience, expertise, education, and passion to tackle your most challenging problems, you can create a huge competitive advantage.

What are some of the obstacles you need to overcome to achieve full collaboration? Here are 4 that I’ve identified:

Individual ownership. Most people care deeply about their work and their contribution to the success of the organization. On the surface, this is a really good thing. However, it is a two-edged sword. The good news is that work gets done; the bad news is that it may get done without the collaborative input of the team. Leaders need to defeat the “I’ll just do it myself” mindset.

Physical space. The pandemic and the radical changes to the way people work has provided challenges when a group of people attempt to truly work together. Find what works for your team and make tweaks along the way to refine your working environment.

Time on task. We have to invest more time together to gain the benefits we seek. Time together is the price you pay for better results. This can be both formal, scheduled time and informal time. Regardless, time is essential in becoming a more collaborative team.

Volume of work. Collaboration is not the most efficient way to work. However, I believe it is the most effective way to work. The more work we have to do, the more we need to collaborate – even though it requires more time. This may feel counterintuitive – it is!

What inhibits collaboration on your team?

 

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Mark Miller

Mark Miller
Mark Miller is a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, communicator, and the former Vice President of High Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. Mark’s leadership journey at Chick-fil-A spanned 45 years, and today, he serves as the Co-Founder of Lead Every Day. Mark began writing almost twenty years ago, and with over one million books in print in more than twenty-five languages, his global impact continues to grow.

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