Encouraging Purposeful Collaboration at the Work Place? Process followed: observe, identify extremes, interview, gain empathy, gain insights

Inform - we need to create dynamics in the group, so that we can do better work, by sharing without having fear of being criticized.


Inspire - we crave space to express freely, because everyone opinion matters.


Be memorable - Greater talent needs a broader opinion.


quote:"It is important to create dynamics in the group so we can lose the fear of being criticised".

  1. Lead by example 2. Priorities what matters. 3. Engage through visuals and inclusion

Insight #1 - Cooperation is the natural result of a common purpose or goal.


quote: "there are no winners and losers, we either all win or we all lose together".


Insight #2 - Relationships are the safe grounds to share feelings, perspectives and new ideas.


quote: the best way to facilitate collaboration was in a real-time-meeting (face-to-face, skype, phone) because you could tell the other persons attitude, get immediate feedback and build a relationship. The power of relationship building is clear. When people are informed of deficiencies, they are defensive, but when included in opportunities to find ways to expedite completion of the work they are engaged and cooperative.

Personal connections build the connections and empathy that are vital to true collaboration. Any project will be better if you go beyond the surface to build personal connections at the start.


To Encourage Collaboration, participants need to make tangible connections. When we work with remote partners, its imperative that somehow we move beyond the mere discussion and develop a true connection. Connective Tissue is Required for True Collaboration


I've been on conference calls and webex discussions numerous times. I've always accepted that these connections were less than satisfactory. However, I participated in one where the other participants included video and I was struck on how much more engaged everyone was on that particular discussion. Even when the technology posed a challenge, the fact that there was a visual contact allowed us to communicate on a deeper level.



“Collaborate through consistent communication” • New team members need guidelines • Online tools and video calls make seeing each other easier • Learning to use all of our tools is critical as we grow

Insight #1
Unstructured does not mean unscheduled.*


Insight #2
Collaboration is group-oriented and individual-driven.


Insight #3
Collaboration is only as good as its environment.


quote:“workplace collaboration is an open dialogue that’s founded on trust. Everyone needs to have a similarly high level of respect for each other.” , “environment is at least 50% of the
collaboration equation.”

Remote collaboration: Troubleshooting errors is much more difficult only using one medium. Having multiple set up as a back up is key. However, ensuring that ALL people are prepared for remote collaboration is most important. If one person doesn't show up or isn't prepared, it can negate positive collaboration among team members.


Using empathy to understand different remote collaboration settings underscored the importance of setting clear guidelines


Clarity is key for roles, responsibilities and goals Build rapport and trust to connect global teams Be specific for online collaboration to be effective

Getting some consistency on what to use and when would go a long way to helping drive better collaboration.


“Collaboration Online: Using the right tools at the right time!”


  1. Tools – How can you truly going from “communication” to collaboration when people are using different tools.
  2. Bring them together, show them how, reduce the confusion and online collaboration has a chance at success.
  3. Leadership – Collaboration leaders are need to keep things on track, to keep people involved Relationships – In any forum people want to be heard, they want to feel included, and they can easily feel excluded if you no-one is listening. They give up. Collaboration is people working together. Wherever you can bridge the online gap.


Staff don’t seem to know what tool is best: For a team or a project that needs to collaborate online – agree, document and monitor the tools of choice for your activity. It’s important everyone knows what, how and why.
• Leadership – In a meeting (online included) someone should be a leader for collaboration. Not the person doing the admin or the person running the meeting. Someone just checking people are being given opportunities and understand. When using online tools you will need a leader for others to the follow their example.

For shared understanding, Sales, BA, CSMs & CMs need a shared “space”
They need a central place to see the progress of campaigns so everyone can see the big picture.
They need a way to flag their own tasks that they could use help on and an unobtrusive way for coworkers to jump in to help. The last thing a busy person wants is to be interrupted.
They need to bring communication out of emails, where it can easily get lost in a team environment.
Surfacing the tasks of team members they have less touchpoints with can foster appreciation and gratitude.

workplace collaboration – we need a way to connect with each other in ways that are easy, flexible and can be
done ‘without the technology getting in the way’.


  1. Communication needs to be frequent, but social is more of a pull method of learning about something whereas mail and notifications are more of a push. When we don't know something then we feel that there are breakdowns which cause us problems.


  2. Processes and agreements of how we collaboration are evolving and we can work to create our IDEAL fluid and flexible method of collaboration.



  1. Collaboration at workplace is easy and effective when the entire team in one geographic location, when people know each other well (there is a relationship) and people have built rapport with each other.


  2. Staying motivated to stay connected and collaborate is crucial if teams are geographically spread out or if people are frequently travelling.


  3. Purposeful collaboration at workplace is a culture. Promoting a culture of collaboration from day one (the day an employee starts work) is crucial for successful collaboration at workplace. Nudging people in various ways to collaborate helps build a culture of collaboration at work place.



Clarity is key for roles, responsibilities and goals


Build rapport and trust to connect global teams


Be specific for online collaboration to be effective


1st iterations of the insights:


Trust and believability in each other need to take place for effective collaboration.


In person collaboration is effective when people are engaged and not distracted. Movement helps with that.


Working remotely can work but tools and practices need to be in place.




2nd iterations of the insights:


Sharing vulnerabilities in the beginning is a good first step in building trust to collaborate.


Stand-up when meeting in person to collaborate


Simulate in-person techniques like video-chat, workforce collaborations tools when working remotely.


Collaboration needs an effective environment and willing people. - this suggests that collaboration can only happen in these environment,


Collaboration is a powerful dynamic and is enhanced through physical environment, use of space and respectful relationships.


Collaborating with others can be a wonderful experience, creating lots of exciting ways to make improvements that matter to people. For groups that collaborate they will become much better at this the more they understand, respect and commit to each other.

Academic Institution


Collaboration is an extension of our mission to connect and synthesize knowledge for broad and diverse audiences.


quotes:
"Our relationship to faculty is unique."


"Individual experience counts, but project mission trumps other considerations."


"We have an opportunity to communicate the value and purpose of media to faculty."


"We're like a start-up inside the Vatican."

Collaboration, more than just working with people,
working with ideas
Collaboration, everyone has an initial vision but there is
one goal
Goals are more incomplete with limited diversity and
limited collaboration
Diversity of team, focused where work is needed Collaboration - Cast a wider net, catch a bigger idea
Limited collaboration = Incomplete work


quote: "Collaboration is about diversity of ideas and unity of purpose "


healthcare outside the patientarea


insight : Build connectivity around daily routines.

Collaborative teaching builds strong intellectual bonds


Sharing sharpens teacher's knowledge


Being an equal partner creates a healthy relationship.
Insecurity makes co-teaching transactional as it lacks sharing

Collaboration, more than just working with people, working with ideas

  • Collaboration, everyone has an initial vision but there is one goal
  • Goals are more incomplete with limited diversity and limited collaboration
  • Diversity of team, focused where work is needed
  • Collaboration - Cast a wider net, catch a bigger idea
  • Limited collaboration = Incomplete work

Insight 1
■ Inform- Audiences know what they
need
■ Inspire- We all need a little help
from our friends
■ Memorable- Strong modeling is
welcome


Insight 2
■ Inform- Working together does not
come naturally
■ Inspire- Group think is a mighty tool
■ Memorable- When it takes a village,
provide training wheels

Powerful connections lead to powerful collaborations.


Purposeful collaboration is easier if you know who is your colleague and you connect


for purposeful collaboration teams need to connect


There is a common need for clear and effective communication between each other.


Bridges help to provide better opportunities to collaborate, even if they are small talk or common areas of interest


"Hidden agendas" are collaboration killers, while transparency provides an environment of efficiency accountability and trust


Digital tools provide a fertile land for collaboration, it must be kept in mind that not everyone uses the same tools

INSIGHT: For collaboration to be effective communication must be Active.