Collaboration
As its Latin roots com and laborare suggest, collaboration reduced to its simplest definition means "to work together". The most robust definition that is more commonly cited was constructed by Barbara Gray. She describes collaboration as "a process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.”
A collaborative environment enhances the sense of connection people have with their team. Therefore examining collaboration should be the prime objective of any business or team wishing to ‘up their game’. Collaboration is a skill and set of practices that are rarely taught, and is often something individuals learn on the job in a hit-or-miss fashion. Some have a natural ability to collaborate, whereas most individuals are clueless. The key is, an organisation’s ability to support collaboration is highly dependent on its own organisational culture. Some openly foster collaboration, while others stop and prevent it from occurring.
When developing a collaborative environment throughout the team/organisation/individual more can be achieved with less effort. For example, when collaboration and collaborative leadership is high, team members feel more included and much less inclined to leave for another company. As a result, employee retention is much higher in collaborative organisations. These collaborative teams have become a ‘team of choice’ that people want to join.
Research and experience tells us that breakthrough performance is not just about the skills of individual team members. Special team efforts come from stimulating each member around a clear and highly challenging objective. This kind of performance does not depend on a ‘secret ingredient’. In fact when a series of specific factors are put in place, such as collaborative leadership, it becomes inevitable.
The result of applying the findings and recommendations of the Collaboration Index will in the long run, create greater employee retention and team stability. Of course there is also the side benefit of a happier more collaborative workplace.
“Innovation demands collaboration. So does production.” Callahan, Schenk & White.
