The Collaboration Challenge: Working Together is Hard (But Worth It)

Collaboration sounds simple in theory—until you find yourself navigating differing opinions, limited resources, and competing priorities. Working with others is rewarding, but let’s be honest—it can also be messy, frustrating, and sometimes stressful.

I once had the boundaries of a friendship tested when we attempted to assemble complex pieces of IKEA furniture together. The youthful enthusiasm and anticipation that started the day eventually blended with impatience and despair as we navigated wordless instructions, abstract diagrams, and an inexplicable shortage of screws. What started as a simple DIY project quickly became a test of perseverance, communication, and problem-solving—three fundamental elements of successful collaboration.

In our workplace, the stakes are much higher than a woeful piece of IKEA furniture. Collaboration requires bringing together different perspectives, navigating ambiguity, and working towards a common goal. But when it isn’t clear how to get from where you are to where you want to go, everything becomes more difficult. Different personalities, backgrounds, organisational structures and departmental goals add to the challenges of working through complex problems together. Despite starting with good intentions, a person can begin to wonder if effective collaboration is even possible.

Why Collaboration Matters

Collaboration is more than just working alongside colleagues—it is about building relationships, systems, and processes that align efforts, foster trust, and accelerate goal achievement. When individuals bring their expertise, insight and information to the table and engage constructive dialogue, they unlock solutions that no one person could achieve alone.

A highly collaborative environment fosters creativity, improves problem-solving, and enhances decision-making. It also strengthens relationships within teams, leading to a more engaged and motivated workforce. Simply put, when we collaborate effectively, we create an environment where both individuals and teams thrive. It improves our ability to make lives better and is well worth the effort.

How to Be More Collaborative (Without Losing Your Sanity)

Here are a few quick suggestions for building that collaboration muscle:

1. Listen More Than You Speak – Effective collaboration begins with understanding. Great collaborators know when to pause and actually hear what others are saying. Take the time to truly hear your colleagues, seek clarity, and appreciate different viewpoints.
2. Give Credit Where It’s Due – A culture of appreciation strengthens teamwork. Acknowledging and valuing each person’s input fosters mutual respect and encourages ongoing participation, openness and engagement.?
3. Embrace Constructive Conflict – Healthy debates often lead to better solutions. Approach differences with curiosity and a solution-focused mindset, ensuring that every voice is heard and being intentional about sharing your own perspective with respect and honesty.
4. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize – When teams align around a common purpose, they operate with greater cohesion and effectiveness. Despite our differences, re-focusing on our shared objectives and anchoring in clear goals can ensure that collaboration leads to meaningful results.
5. Choose to Trust – Collaboration flourishes when trust is present. We will all make mistakes. Assume positive intent, be transparent in your actions, and give others the benefit of the doubt. Trust fuels cooperation and allows teams to move faster and work more effectively.

Bonus Suggestion for Leaders:

1. Remove Roadblocks – Beyond role modeling the behaviors above, leaders can actively identify and remove barriers that hinder effective collaboration. Whether it’s unclear roles & accountabilities, overly complex processes or a lack of effective collaboration tools there are a number of obstacles can limit progress. Leaders can work to ensure that teams have the clarity, structure, trust, and support they need to focus on what truly matters: working together to achieve meaningful results.

Elevate Your Collaboration Skills with the Civil Service College

Developing strong collaboration skills is essential for professional growth and organizational success. The Civil Service College is committed to equipping civil servants with the tools to work more effectively across teams and departments. To help strengthen your collaboration skills, we invite you to explore the following professional development opportunities available free of cost:

• Crucial Conversations Training – A deep dive into the skills needed to navigate high-stakes conversations with confidence and clarity. Learn how to engage in difficult discussions while maintaining trust and collaboration. Login to CSCOnline> Go to Catalogue page > Search for “Crucial Conversations”.
• Visit and complete CSCOnline’s March Learning Corner -- https://www.gov.ky/csc/learningcorner
• Senior Leadership Event: Partnerships for Progress – Our annual professional development event for invited senior leaders will explore the transformative power of collaboration in achieving the Civil Service’s Strategic Goals. Speakers will share insights on fostering strong partnerships, breaking down silos, and leading with trust to drive innovation and resilience. While in-person attendance is limited to invited guests, civil servants are welcomed to join via live stream to gain valuable leadership insights [click here to register].

By investing in your own development, you can enhance your ability to collaborate, build trust, and achieve world-class results that make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.

Let’s commit to working better—together.