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Leadership Toolbox is a practical series designed to help student leaders build skills they can use right away. Explore topics including communication, organization, collaboration, goal setting, motivation, relationship building and more.
Welcome to the Student Activities Online Leadership Toolbox. Today on Inspired Leadership, we'll be talking about fostering collaboration. We'll discuss what collaboration is, how to prepare for it, and the skills and strategies for the collaborative process. Start by defining the word collaboration. Collaboration is a structured process where two or more people or organizations work together toward a common goal.
Crystal Watts:Collaboration is a relationship that requires teamwork between two or more parties that promotes knowledge and skill sharing, learning, and consensus decision making to meet a particular interest, mission, or goal. Before you begin the collaboration process, whether you are collaborating as an individual or as part of an organization, it is important to know your own inventory of skills, resources, strengths, and limitations. Knowledge on this information will allow you to identify when you actually need collaboration. Furthermore, being aware of the limitations of yourself and your organization will help you identify the specific strengths and abilities in other individuals or organizations that will help aid your overall goal. When choosing collaborative partners, it's important to be mindful that the outcome of successful collaboration depends on the purpose, how it relates to those who are involved, and promoting positive relationships.
Crystal Watts:Communication is critical when seeking collaborative partners. If your organization is seeking out a partnership, be prepared to present your why. Why should others want to partner with you? What? What are your common goals?
Crystal Watts:And how? How does each collaborative partner benefit from working together? When you have identified that you are in need of collaboration, do your research about your potential collaborative partners. Know who they are and the work that they do. Understand why they should participate and how this relationship is compatible to their values, interests, and mission.
Crystal Watts:If the purpose for collaboration is not in line with the interest of the collaborative partner's vision, the relationship may lack motivation. There has to be a common interest that is valued by all parties involved in order to begin the process and stay motivated. When searching for collaborative partners, keep in mind to search for diverse talents and skills that complement the reason for the collaboration. Diversifying your talents, skills and resources allows you to bring different perspectives and groups that may complement your organization's strengths and limitations. Furthermore, try to search for organizations that are accountable and open to possibilities.
Crystal Watts:Accountability and being open to possibilities can limit conflict and create a relationship where people exchange ideas freely and meet goals that all sides feel are worthwhile. Additionally, choosing partners to collaborate with is only the beginning. Fostering a collaboration is a journey that requires various skills and lots of patience. Here are some helpful tips for fostering collaboration. Number one, goals.
Crystal Watts:Identify your goals before you begin your collaborative process. Clearly defined goals that are time based and measurable are the best way to ensure success and satisfaction for all parties involved. Number two. Define roles and responsibilities. Everyone in the collaborative group should know what they are responsible for and have a clear understanding of their tasks.
Crystal Watts:Number three. Communication. Both written and verbal. Communication needs to happen in a timely manner and be clear enough to act upon while sharing important information. Be sure communication is direct and it only includes what is needed for your shared goals to prevent confusion.
Crystal Watts:Number four: Be open to negotiation. When working with collaborative partners, it is vital that you have negotiation skills to help navigate tough decisions and reach full agreement. The process is not always clear, and being open to negotiation means everyone involved can find common ground. Number five: Problem solving skills. This is a must when working with collaborative partners.
Crystal Watts:Number six: Encourage feedback. Encourage feedback from all collaborative partners. Positive and critical feedback will help inform your process and provide transparency in your work together. Number seven. Encourage full participation.
Crystal Watts:Participation should happen with all collaborative partners. Clearly outlining duties and responsibilities as well as inviting others to take on shared tasks will help distribute the workload. Establish boundaries and norms. Establishing boundaries and norms will prevent procedural and cultural clashes. Be sure to include shared respect for individuals and organizational cultures and identities.
Crystal Watts:Number nine. Stay organized. Agree as a collaborative partner on the usage of communication platforms and utilize them in ways that make sense for the process. And be sure all collaborative partners have access to shared documentation. Number 10: Follow Through.
Crystal Watts:If an individual or organization is assigned a task and agrees to complete that task, be sure to follow through. Nothing deters progress or creates collaborative tension more than the lack of follow through. And that's it. Overall, the collaborative process should be positive while allowing multiple parties to get what they need, find success, and build pathways to future partnerships. Learning to foster collaborations means you can share resources, skills, and experiences where everyone benefits.
Crystal Watts:This podcast was presented by the Student Activities Department at Minnesota State University Mankato. Find other podcasts at mnsu.edu/activities/toolbox.