The art of collaboration is a key factor when building a successful business or career. What is collaboration and why is it important in your professional life? Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something. It is important because working with others can help to produce a better final product. Here are 6 skills required for effective collaboration.
- Communication: Everyone involved in a project needs to be able to express themselves clearly, with regard to the project. Effective communication between team members will keep everyone on the same page, thus making the collaboration more productive.
- Authenticity: Collaboration brings people with different backgrounds and strengths together and harnesses the talents of each person. The ability to be authentic will allow each team member to truly bring their individual talents to the table.
- Compromise: The ability to listen to two sides of an argument and devise a plan acceptable to both parties. When collaborating with others, not every battle has to be fought. Team members need to be able to work with each other and reach the best possible solution of a variety of options. This is extremely important to the team dynamic and results received.
- Tolerance: A team, which comprises a group of individuals with a variety of differences, can work better together when everyone is tolerant of others’ differences. Being tolerant of each other goes a long way for effective collaboration.
- Team Player: In order for collaboration to be effective, the members of the team should be able to work well with others, and add value to the task at hand. There is no “I” in team.
- Reliability: Reliability is what builds trust which is key for effective collaboration. All members on a team need to have faith that each and everyone is getting their necessary tasks accomplished and trust each other when sharing ideas.
If members of your team practice the above skills, their collaborative efforts can accomplish any goals. Remember to encourage your team to develop and work on these skills.