COLLABORATION FOR RESULTS| PRACTICE AS LEADERSHIP VALUE|

Collaboration is a much-debated topic in the leadership sphere. While everyone wants to get the best in every network or relationship, taking the first collaborative step sometimes is a challenging task. Working in synergy rather than silos gives the best outcomes. Collaborations bring together individuals who are working towards similar goals. However at the same time, sometimes when you are working in the same domain with similar goals… personal comparisons and competitions can also surface which can have damaging outcomes.

Collaborative leadership also promotes mutual trust, value for each other, engaged workforce, increased employee loyalty. The benefits of collaboration cannot be undermined, however, building it as an organizational value takes time and effort.

3 Simple Ways to Inspire collaboration and not competition:

1. Watch What you Encourage & Award -Very often organizations only applaud individual employee performance rather than team performance or peer camaraderie. In a team game if individuals become the focus, then the essence of collaboration can be lost. The moment our appraisals are restructured to award and appreciate Collaborations, the employee realignment will happen; till then it will be like the British rule being part of the bell curve mysteries. Making Collaboration a Value to be practiced in the organization can give a huge boost towards its practice.
2. Hire Diverse Team members -Hiring plays a quintessential role in bringing diversity to the workspace. People with different backgrounds, talents, and skills in the same space can be a huge asset to collaborative culture in the organization. This also helps the quality of creativity and innovation in the collaborative efforts.
3. Learning & Networking Labs -Organizing learning and networking events from time to time can also be another great way for people to find their prospective collaborators. These events would open up a plethora of opportunities for different projects and also solve current roadblocks.

Do you like to be the best or part of the best team? Do you think collaboration is a higher value than competition? As a leader do you encourage collaboration or competition? What has been your experience as a collaborator?

To know more do explore the following reads:

Collaboration-How Leaders Avoid the Trap & Create Unity

Radical Collaboration