If you ask staff about areas of opportunity and what they consider to be the biggest issue holding the team back, communication tends to be at or near the top of the list. While I agree that we could all improve the quality and quantity of our communication, I believe a bigger opportunity exists in the area of collaboration.
Just because you are the “Leader” doesn’t mean that you have to have all of the ideas. In fact, teams are most effective when all of the team members contribute at their “natural best”. This is the essence of collaboration, which will only take place when a leader is willing to be vulnerable and humble and draw out the thoughts, perspectives, and ideas of their team.
Awareness – We become part of a working entity with a shared purpose
Motivation – We drive to gain consensus in problem solving or development
Self-synchronization – We decide as individuals when things need to happen
Participation – We participate in collaboration and we expect others to participate
Mediation – We negotiate and we collaborate together and find a middle point
Reciprocity – We share and we expect sharing in return through reciprocity
Reflection – We think and we consider alternatives
Engagement – We proactively engage rather than wait and see
Collaboration relies on openness and knowledge sharing but also some level of focus and accountability on the part of the business organization. Governance should be established to address the creation and closing of team workspaces with assignment of responsibility for capturing the emergent results of the collaborative effort.
Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Business Consultant. He would love to assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented above. He is confident that in the process you will enjoy a 10X ROI.
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