The Impact of True Collaboration in the Workplace
By KeJuan Carter - eGuide Systems Manager
Misunderstanding Collaboration
People tend to retreat from collaborative opportunities for many reasons, not least of which is the memory of doing group projects in school. The goal of such an exercise was to understand the importance of teamwork, but many of us walked away from the experience with not-so-pleasant feelings. There are very specific scenarios that we tend to think of when talking about collaborating in a group. One scenario is where one person does all of the work and everyone else in the group gets to take credit. The flip side of that is when one person refuses to let anyone else in the group help with the project. In these situations, no one wants to be taken advantage of and no one wants to feel like their contribution is unwanted, so they’d rather not collaborate at all.
Another scenario is that of the “divide and conquer” strategy where everyone gets part of the project to complete and then comes back at the end to put it all together. This is arguably the most common way people think collaboration is supposed to look like. It makes sense because this scenario fairly divides the work so no one is doing it all alone, but the lack of communication makes this strategy very risky. What if someone doesn’t do their part? What if everyone had a different understanding of the project? This has happened to many of us in school and no one ever bothered to demonstrate what true collaboration actually looks like. The first time you work on a team in a truly collaborative way…it’s life-changing. You’ll see that true collaboration is built on communication, trust, and understanding, and it starts with the environment and culture of the workplace.
The Ideal Collaborative Environment
True collaboration allows everyone to contribute meaningfully and in a manner that serves the needs of the project and the team as a whole. The ideal collaborative environment allows for open communication without fear of judgment. This type of environment also recognizes every member's value and shines a light on it so that everyone contributes in the best way possible. One person may be really great at analyzing a situation but is less comfortable speaking/presenting in front of more than a couple of people. Another person may be great at motivating others around a call to action but less adept at coming up with new ideas themselves. In the ideal environment, the team would see these traits and delegate responsibilities accordingly.
Compassionate Understanding
To achieve true collaboration in a group, there must be what I like to call, compassionate understanding. It’s the difference between knowing your team member’s strengths and weaknesses and understanding how those traits allow your team member to show up in the work. Knowing that a team member is gifted at coming up with great ideas is one thing, but you might change your approach and be more mindful if you understand that, although it is a strength, coming up with great ideas is actually very frustrating and draining to that person. They will undoubtedly come up with a great product in the end, but if that strength is exercised too often, it could potentially lead to burnout. That’s not to say that we should Marie Kondo our work and only do the type that brings us joy. Some tasks will be frustrating, but it’s important to not live in that frustration for too long. Tapping into the strengths that fill your team members with energy will make them more enjoyable to collaborate with.
Judgment-Free Communication
Achieving true collaboration also requires a high level of trust among the team. Cultivating a culture that encourages questions and allows team members to admit that they don’t know an answer is the first step to building that trust. There are few things worse than working in a group and feeling like the weak link because everyone else is more knowledgeable than you. Finding oneself in a position like that can cause feelings of intimidation and fear of speaking up which can lead that person to suffer alone and in silence. A healthy, collaborative team will take note of any knowledge gaps and fill them by providing the space for all members to, not just be on the same page, but also comprehend the material.
Workplace Impact
Collaboration can be challenging if you haven’t really experienced a healthy version of it before. However, the benefits of fostering a truly collaborative environment will make the challenges worth it. Make sure your team members actually talk to each other and interact in ways that demonstrate those energizing traits. Cultivate trust throughout your organization so that team members feel comfortable asking for help. Allow your team members to shine in the work by tapping into their strengths and demonstrating that their work doesn’t go unnoticed. If you are able to build a team that can collaborate in a real and meaningful way, excellence will show up in the work and in the lives of your team members.
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