Are good collaborators optimists?

I have recently had a latest article of mine published by Irish Tech News - https://irishtechnews.ie/collaboration-covid-19-striking-the-right-collaboration-and-collaborative-technology-balance/amp/

I just then did a subsequent podcast with the very inspiring Ronan Leonard from Irish Tech News. Ronan was so optimist and collaborative in his thinking that it got me thinking. ARE GOOD COLLABORATORS OPTIMISTS?

So, what exactly is Collaboration?

While there are many definitions of what collaboration is, I like to describe it as being ‘where two or more parties come together to constructively seek solutions for their mutual benefit’. As we are social animals, for human beings collaboration is a core feature of our very human essence. Collaborative tools are clearly contributing, and will only accelerate in contributing, to a massive surge in online productivity. Given innovation through collaboration has always been an essential ‘human’ activity, we must not forget to find ways of human-to-human, social network interaction. Some 93% of all human communication is non-verbal, with 55% found in facial expressions. While working from home on a video-conferencing platform helps us get the job done, we must not overlook that fact that is creating many challenges such as screen fatigue, how to keep up morale and how to allow for innovatively powerful human communication.

We are finding new, and sometimes innovative, ways to sell our offerings, support our clients and to collaborate with our colleagues. Structural market shifts are accelerating industry sector changes, with undoubted increases and improvements in innovation, particularly in virtual communications, AI, biotechnology, telemedicine and other digital sectors. Will, or should, we ever return to exactly the way we worked before or will the rise in collaborative technologies feature even more strongly in all our lives?

Globalisation has been under significant assault for much of the last decade or so. Geo-politically, while barriers are a short- term necessity in an attempt to limit the inexorable advance of Covid 19, this crisis has, from a medical research perspective, underlined the huge value of global collaboration. We are witnessing the development, and adaption, of life-saving technologies and massive research into treatments. We are experiencing perhaps not seen before (at least since the AIDS crisis of the 1980s) sharing of scientific journals, genome sequencing data and clinical trials, bringing together thousands of scientists, medics, companies and researchers globally.

Does optimism underpin collaboration?

Proficient CEOs demonstrate good corporate culture by, amongst other things, building a genuinely unified team culture through collaboration (combined skill base and knowledge) and cooperation (aligned attitudes). They also create a culture of “what if” and accept that mistakes happen- permission for all staff to “play the innovation game”, yet within an environment of accountability – safe fail, rather than fail-safe.

Through the innovation and collaboration process, new knowledge, ideas and perspectives are generated. This, in turn, requires a strategy for their capture, implementation, and review – a strategic approach to collaboration and innovation. This strategic approach then creates an environment of “strategic serendipity”- the ability to notice opportunity or, as it were to ‘make your own luck’. Truly collaborative leaders get this. It is important to embed innovation into the context of the organisation’s overall strategic direction, with flexibility.

Optimism, forward-thinking, strategic serendipity- call it what you will, I am convinced that optimists fear collaboration less than pessimists and even some pragmatists.

There has perhaps never been a time when collaboration to facilitate interaction and innovation has been so important. The challenges wrought by this current health and economic crisis, combined with climate change and an ageing population in the developed world clearly require some well thought through collaborative outcomes.

The Cambridge dictionary defines an optimist as "hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future".

Optimists don't fear failure, focus on solutions- including collaboratively, think and act forward, communicate inclusively, and live by the principle by collaboration. Optimists are open-minded, willing and generous - they seek others’ thoughts and opinions before making decisions. Optimists believe strongly that the power to transform is magnified in a team.

BRING ON THE OPTIMISTS as we come through this current period in time!!

Simon Haigh 30 April 2020