Collaboration Handout
What is collaboration?
Collaboration is two or more people working together toward shared goals.
Collaboration involves
1. Team (made up of two or more people)
2. Working together (processes)
3. Toward shared goals (purpose)
Collaboration can exist in two forms:
Real Time, where everyone interacts in face-to-face, online meetings, through instant messaging or with Skype.
Time-shifted where the interaction can be time-shifted, examples- uploading documents to shared workspaces, or making contributions to a wiki.
Why do we need or want collaboration?
It enables us to get great results. When everyone feels that they have been part of the solution, it gives a great feeling. No one feels that they lost out to someone else.
Where can we use collaboration?
We can use all parts of our lives. All of us may be surprised to learn that we are actually collaborating in many of the decisions that we make.
Resolve conflict
Plan events
Settle problems
Collaboration can be a valuable tool for district leaders.
Collaboration Process
First Step: Awareness –A conflict, problem or event needs assistance. You have to know a problem/conflict, etc. exists.
Second Step: Motivation – We want to gain a consensus in the problem solving or the development of the project. We want to achieve the goal so we are motivated to do the best that we can.
Third Step –Synchronizing –
As individuals, we decide when things need to happen. We see the need to come together and work as a team.
Collaborations are most effective when teammates complement each other rather than replicate one another’s abilities.
Fourth Step: Participation –
Responsibilities need to be made clear to all who are in the process. Giving responsibilities at the start of the project gives everyone direction.
Fifth Step – Mediation –
We need to be open to ideas from others. That means that we set aside our ego and look objectively at all ideas. We need to detach from preconceived notions.
We negotiate in this step, collaborate together and find a middle point.
Sixth Step – Reciprocity-
This step advises us to seek first to understand and then to be understood.
This reciprocity creates an atmosphere of caring, and positive problem solving. We share ideas and expect sharing in return.
Seventh Step – Reflection – In this step, we think and we consider alternatives. Here we gather data, impressions, stories, history and any other observations about what we have done.
Much of the creative lifting happens when we are by ourselves, working on our own.
Use meeting time to exchange ideas, not generate them.
Eighth Step – Engagement– Here we proactively engage (work together) rather than wait and see. We combine the strengths and ideas of people through positive teamwork. That helps us to achieve goals that no one could have done alone.
There are factors that guide interactionin the collaboration process. These include:
Trust– It is important to develop trust among those who are working together for whatever the goal is.
Respect– Each person needs to feel that they are valued as a member. It is important for all to be allowed to voice their opinion.
Open and Flexible Approach to Thinking – If any participant is inflexible in his/her thinking and has given up the possibility of change, then talk becomes limited and so has the success of the group.
Group Reciprocity – This describes the relationships that are created when each member of the team is both a leader and a participant.
Purpose and Benefits of Collaboration
The purpose of it - The shared goals.
Collaboration allows the possibility for all involved parties to win in the situations of resolving conflict, making an event come to life as well as solving a problem.
There is no destructive and unnecessary competition when the team comes to a consensus in their collaboration effort.
When we believe that there are enough resources and successes to share with others, we are able to celebrate the success of others rather than feel threatened by it.
Collaboration creates an atmosphere of caring and positive solving. When we use it, the strengths of people can be combined, so as to achieve goals that no one could have done alone.
One big intangible benefit is that when a win/win situation is reached, a feeling of goodwill exists. That can carryover to that group feeling good about working together again.
It can be time-consuming but it can reap great results when all feel they have been part of the end result.
Additional Information
There are three collaborative traits that are most helpful in the process.
1. Be prepared – respect your time and the time of others.
2. You are engaging – speak in ways to captivate the interest of everyone. Team buy-in is so important.
3. You are adaptable. Learn how to manage dysfunction.