UXL Blog

If you’re like many people I know, you take on a lot by yourself. Whether work projects or home projects, you tend to put your head down and plow forward with your work. But that may not be the best approach, and it may not be sustainable for your mental and physical health. Sometimes, it’s better to collaborate.

Collaboration might seem like a lot of extra work when you can simply do something yourself.

However, there are many reasons to collaborate. It can…

• Foster creativity and innovation
• Help you get out of a rut
• Distribute the workload more evenly
• Aid you in thinking outside the box
• Energize and motivate yourself (and others)
• Help capitalize on individuals’ strengths

The list goes on. Alternatively, when you choose to do everything yourself, you may end up heading down the wrong path (or a path that might have been better if you had asked for input), or things might end up taking longer because you do not have sufficient expertise or experience (but someone else might). Besides, collaboration can be fun!

Though it’s easy for extroverts such as myself to promote collaboration (I definitely embrace “sunshine yellow” in the Insights Discovery program), it can work well for everyone. The key is to be open to collaborating. Go into it with the understanding that others may approach a problem or task differently than you, and that’s okay. It’s important to let go some of your control and see what happens when others take the wheel. This is how big ideas and innovations happen–when everyone feels free to put forth their ideas.

How can you set up a successful collaboration?

• Invite several people to the table (everyone who makes sense to invite)
• Make the goal clear (and address any questions)
• Establish the parameters (Is this a brainstorming session? Is anything off limits? What time frame do you have? Etc.)
• Establish an open line of communication
• Make sure everyone has a role and is clear on their responsibilities
• Check in regularly
• Listen and be open to ideas, and encourage others to do the same
• Make sure all voices are heard

We can walk farther when we walk together. Even if collaboration does not necessarily come naturally to you, I encourage you to give it a try. Engage others, establish your parameters, and take off! You may be surprised by the possibilities that open up and the results you achieve.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

Tags: collaboration and better results, leadership coach Margaret Smith, margaret smith career coach, power of collaboration, teamwork and innovation, teamwork for better results