Is Collaboration worth your time?

Henry Ford had once famously said "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." This is often quoted as the quintessential mantra in the realm of business organizations while establishing Collaboration as the cornerstone of innovation, productivity, and success.

What is Collaboration?

Collaboration is when individuals or teams work together towards a common goal. It is similar to cooperation. “Let’s work together to make our organization a market leader” is a collaborative statement. ?

When organizations set collaboration as an enabler or a goal, it sends distinct messages about their priorities and approaches to achieving success. It defines their culture, ambition and ways of working.

Is Collaboration worth my time?

The answer is an unequivocal yes, in most functions in a business organization.

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How do I build Collaboration in my team?

Here comes the part we like most as team players, talking about how we build a culture of Collaboration.

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1.??? Define Goals, have Clear Communication: Communicate the intent to build /enhance Collaboration, defining what it would look like in action. Ex. Departments Supply Chain, Finance and Sales will work together to create a plan to optimize logistics costs, while maintaining customer service standards and brand equity. The concerns /KPI’s of all functional teams would need to addressed.

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2.??? Continuous communication: Open and honest communication is the golden key to collaboration. Encourage your team to share their thoughts and ideas freely, fostering an environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.

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3.??? Foster Trust: Trust is the bedrock of collaboration. Clarify communication if it seems to not be aligned, before reaching conclusions. Ask questions. Exchange hats while brainstorming. Trust your team to deliver their best, and they will trust you in return.

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4.??? Define Roles: Clearly outline each team member's role and the collective goals. This clarity eliminates confusion and helps everyone understand their responsibilities.

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5.??? Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements, big or small. It builds morale and reinforces the sense of a united team.

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While we build Collaboration, there are some activities to avoid.

Micromanagement, Ignoring Conflict, Neglecting Feedback are practices we should be careful of, as team members and team leads. ?

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Making Collaboration a habit takes time, reinforcement of intent and new ways of working as well as continued focus. It is an effort well worth making and it helps build teams that can accomplish far more together than they could as individuals.

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How have you built Collaboration in your team?

Which aspects do you feel need more focus than others?

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#Collaboration #leadership #salesleadership