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Unleash Your Potential
Issue 5.8 - February 25, 2007 - ISSN: 1551-6571

In Kevin's Own Words

Sail These Seven C’s to Greater Collaborative Success

Most everyone I talk with wants greater success in some (or many) parts of their life. And however independent you may think you are, no one can achieve as much working alone as they can with the collaborative help of others . . . if that collaboration is truly helpful.

You hopefully have experienced times where a group was really clicking; it’s amazing the amount of progress that can be made. However, you’ve likely also experienced times when working together seemed hard and even counter-productive to getting any results.

Here are seven ways to improve collaboration and to make the work of a group more successful in any situation:

• Have a common purpose. Too often we get the cart before the horse. We have a group of people assembled to do some work and since we are all busy we dive right into the task, often without a clear sense for why the work is being done or what the perfect end result would be. Without a clear and common purpose – the reason for being together that everyone shares – collaboration will never reach anywhere near the level that is possible.
• Develop concrete goals. The common purpose unites the group, and the goals provide focus and energy. If you want the maximum results from any group, make sure you have concrete goals.
• Communicate freely. Collaboration requires communication. Effective collaboration requires open and honest communication about ideas, experiences and opinions. In a group where hierarchy is present, realize that the hierarchy can be a barrier to the free flow of communication, and do what you can to counterbalance it.
• Combine the best of each person. Each person brings great strengths in terms of perspective, experience, ideas, skills and much more. Collaboration (and results) will be enhanced when the strengths of each team member are recognized, valued and used.
• Create open-mindedly. Collaboration is an act of creation. You bring people together to find synergy – the sum being greater than the contribution of each individual. Collaboration will be enhanced when people feel comfortable about sharing their ideas, and worry less about whose idea gets implemented. Not coincidentally, as you master the first four points, this step gets easier.
• Circulate accountability. Someone may be the team leader, and that is fine. But greater collaboration will come when everyone feels responsible; when anyone is comfortable and “allowed” to take a leadership role or take the lead in making something happen. The most collaborative groups have a leader, but are filled with people ready to do what it takes to achieve results.
• Compete externally. It is hard to collaborate when you feel competition within the group. Competition for power, position, ideas and more all get in the way of collaborative success. With a clear purpose and goals, people can be clear on what they are trying to accomplish and how to do that in service of the team’s success, not their personal (or departmental) success.

Your Comments: Please visit Kevin's Blog to leave your comments on this article.

Potential Pointer: Being able to be collaborative and to create greater collaboration with a group are two of the most valuable skills you can possess. These Seven C’s will help you create better ideas and greater results, and have more fun doing it!

Kevin

Kevin's Recommends

All the Money in the World:
How the Forbes 400 Make and Spend Their Money
by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan

I don’t exactly know how I would categorize this book. It is part analysis, part mini-biography, part history lesson, part inspiration. Because it is so many things, it is easy to find things to like about it.

I chose this book with little upfront information; I learned about the books existence, and ordered it directly to my Kindle.

I found it fascinating from the first page.

The authors have used the list of the richest Americans (the Forbes 400) as fodder for their research and narrative. From a research and analysis perspective the book offers trends in the economy since the list was first created in 1982, and begs me as a reader to project the trends for the future.

With so many different people to discuss, from a biography perspective I learned some new things about people I have heard of, and some inspirational (as well as cautionary) tales of some people I was unfamiliar with.

In the end the thing I like most about this book is that gives me another view on success. Success can’t be completely defined by accumulation of wealth, but it is a parameter that many people use in that equation. The stories of individual persistence and focus on achieving goals (and so much more) made the book both fascinating and inspiring.

Wealth may not be your largest or most important goal. Even if it isn’t, there are lessons for you here. This is not a self-help book. However, it can help you think about and improve your plans for reaching your life goals, whatever they might be. 

Learn more and make your purchase at Amazon.com.

Your Comments: Please visit Kevin's Blog to leave your comments on this article.

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