Getting to Us!

A few years ago, my friend Dave Summers (the Director of Digital Media Production at AMA in NYC) mused about collaboration and innovation. He wrote:

"My own personal experience has taught me that collaboration can sometimes work. But frequently, forced, or stressed collaboration can work against innovation. People get defensive about their ideas, they're less willing to share."

Why is collaboration so hard to do some of the time?

I believe Dave is on to something when he mentioned about forcing it. You can't force people to join up, share, and work together (my definition of collaboration, BTW). They will do it if they want to do it.

But many times, people on a team don't want to. "I don't wanna. You can't make me" is their mantra. Yes, they are nominally part of the team, but they don't buy it, don't act it, and aren't planning on changing any time soon.

I'm reminded of a time when my son Kevin was a wee tot and he got into a fight with a playmate over a toy that both wanted. My wife patiently said that he needed to learn to share. Through his tears, he cried, "Sharing is not my favorite thing to do."

"Out of the mouths of babes" sometimes comes a useful insight. Sharing. So simple, so basic. Something we all learned about when we were little. But did we take it to heart? And do we do it when we are on a team?

What does it take to start collaborating? Here are a few ideas:

S = Stop Competing: Though you may not always get along with one another, remember that the people on the team with you are not your enemies. You're on the same side. You are all in the same boat. It's time to pull together, rather than pull apart. Shift your attitude from Me to We. Start to trust. Start to cooperate.

H = Help Each Other: In today's organizations, everyone is overloaded and stressed out. Keep an eye on your teammates. Could one of them use an assist? Pitch in and lend a hand. Could one of them use more space? Step aside and give way. Your attentiveness to the needs of team members will be appreciated. 

A = Ask for Input: Ask your teammates for ideas on the tasks and projects you are undertaking. They will feel good that you asked. Encourage healthy conflict and dissent. Ask for help when you need it. Create a culture of open communication. Any culture change effort takes time and persistence. But the value in having open communication cannot be underestimated. 

R = Respect each player on the Team: Yes, every team is comprised of individuals, each with a role to play. At the same time, each person brings a unique story and personality style. Such diversity can be a strength, but it can also be the source of conflict. Building a culture of respect is hard, but worth it so that the best of each player can be directed to the team's performance.

E = Energize the Whole: The power of teamwork is exciting but it won't happen unless you work at it. Energy stems from engagement around the Mission. Rally around the common goals of the team. A team can be more than the sum of the parts. Teams can synergize and do great things. How do you think we first got to the Moon? 

Collaboration is about Us. Start thinking about the possibilities in what you all can do together!

The legendary baseball player Babe Ruth nailed it when he said,

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."

What could your collaboration be worth?

Getting to Us can be challenging but if the team members can learn to SHARE, they can achieve so much more!

Note: In the post above, I told a story about my son Kevin (today a filmmaker, writer, television editor and rising comedian). Well, that's him in the photo above, joining forces with me, to make dinner for the family on a recent vacation trip to Florida. Notice we appear to be collaborating. The truth is, there was plenty of tension. You see, we both love to cook. And we both "hate" to share the kitchen when we are cooking. How did we manage to work together? See the SHARE model above.

Terrence Seamon loves working with teams to help them improve their focus and effectiveness. Follow him on twitter @tseamon, and join his facebook alliance, Facilitation Solutions.