Tag: how to collaborate

THE COLLABORATION KILLER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

By on

We tend to think a thank you is always harmless. In teams, it might be the quietest killer of collaboration.
Why? Because in flat, peer-led projects, the person who says “Thanks everyone, great job” often does more than express gratitude — they assume the role of evaluator. Recognition flows down, not across. Without meaning to, they create hierarchy where none was intended.
Collaboration depends on fairness, psychological safety, and shared ownership. A misplaced thank you can erode all three.
Gratitude isn’t the problem, but the way we structure it is. In my latest Roadmender blog, I explore how recognition can either strengthen or sabotage collaboration, and what simple governance tools can fix it.

APPLYING THE OPEN SHIFT PROTOCOL TO BUSINESS COLLABORATION

By on

This blog introduces the Open Shift Protocol—a simple yet profound method for enhancing collaborative thinking and decision-making. By encouraging individuals and teams to iteratively adopt and emotionally inhabit opposing perspectives, the method loosens rigid thought patterns and fosters deeper, more creative insight. Drawing on principles from emotional intelligence, dialectical reasoning, and creativity research, it offers a unique and structured approach to co-creation that transcends conventional brainstorming or debate, making space for innovation to emerge from complexity and discomfort.

Collaboration vs. Cooperation: Understanding the Critical Distinction

By on

When discussing collaboration, it’s crucial to differentiate it from cooperation. While often used interchangeably, their distinctions are significant. Cooperation involves individual responsibilities, while collaboration entails a broader, interconnected approach. The mindset also differs, with cooperation focusing on individual tasks and collaboration emphasizing collective contribution and innovation, essential for workplace success and effective leadership.

Collaboration Insights

By on

“We know that workplace productivity is linked not only to person’s skills but also to their sense of identity and esteem.” – Jelenko Dragisic, Author of ‘The Collaboration Instinct‘ Small selection of collaboration insights to help managers improve their team performance with simple culture shift towards real collaboration.

What makes collaborating teams tick?

By on

On the surface everyone is a collaborator, and every team is a collaborating team. That is the ‘sell’ in contemporary workplaces. Businesses invest in collaboration as a part of their business strategy for a variety of reasons; improving organisational culture, trust, productivity, competitiveness or even, more imaginatively, to […]

De-risking collaboration

By on

While collaboration has often been praised and promoted as a cure all, endorsing it in this way borders on irresponsible.  In business there are no easy, fail-safe ways of finding good business solutions to complex problems, designing winning strategies or delivering results that meet everyone’s expectations.  The appeal […]

Reclaiming collaboration

By on

It’s time to wrest the subtle art of collaboration from the jaws of everyday spin. The famous co-founder of once widely popular start-up WeWork claimed that the majority (70%) of those who paid to use the WeWork shared space collaborated.  This always seemed like a possibility given that […]

Collaboration: newspeak, a euphemism or a real deal

By on

We’re nearly at the 2-year mark since COVID 19 disrupted our universe.  Businesses have learnt many lessons, and many have embraced new strategies such as collaboration, even with competitors.  In fact, competitors tend to embrace collaboration with each other more often than is recognised.  This is not surprising […]

Collaboration has always been risky

By on

A recent global collaboration study of 476 organisations found that nearly 70% have used collaboration apps.  Reliance on collaboration tools continues to increase as more companies use apps to support their business.  With that shift in workplace practice, or rather, scaling up of an existing practice, comes an […]

Unlocking the Key to Collaboration

By on

Dr Britt Andreatta, former Chief Learning Officer for LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda.com) and consultant to Fortune 500 companies considers collaboration to be an essential skill.  In her book Wired To Connect, Dr Andreatta argues that “Collaboration is a vital necessity for the success of today’s organisation and yet […]

ROADMENDER Recommends

By on

A collaborative culture in any enterprise allows for the mediated design of a trusted environment (or at the very least, trust-building environment).  Collaboration in any organisation allows for creation of a culture which offers employees the ability to create new meaning which is an essential form of motivation […]

ROADMENDER Recommends

By on

COVID 19 has disrupted everything. And, interestingly, one specific thing that has been disturbed is the corrosive cynicism of collaboration as a valuable business strategy. The crisis brought by the global pandemic has led us to rethink the capacity of collaboration as a response to the pervasive nature […]

ROADMENDER Recommends

By on

One of the biggest clichés in business is that ‘collaboration is a buzzword’. What lies behind this almost mantra-like statement is an uncomfortable truth about collaboration: it is not something that comes with a simple set of rules and it can fail miserably when done half-heartedly. However, we […]

Roadmender Recommends

By on

Every now and then collaboration can be frustrating.  Invariably it gets people wondering if it is worth the effort and in particular if collaboration is really possible given that humans are prone to both competition and collaboration.  How to reconcile the drivers?  In my first book (The Collaboration […]

ROADMENDER Recommends

By on

Collaboration is not always an exact science. However, it is not really possible without a synthesis of different branches of science. If approached correctly, as a business strategy, then it clearly leads serious planners and managers to consult different elements that require a deeper understanding of things, e.g. […]

ROADMENDER Recommends

By on

There is never a dull moment in an office when collaboration’s around.  We are constantly hearing good news about it; from growth in the collaboration software market as one indicator of the need for better collaboration, to findings which indicate that collaboration really is making business more competitive.  […]

Collaboration: ‘over the counter’ style

By on

There is no shortage of people who say they want to collaborate.   Nor is there any shortage of people professing they know how to do it well.  The slight problem is that a lot of collaboration talk is ‘over the counter’ grade quality. Collaboration is a genuine business […]

Roadmender Recommends

By on

Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos Not all collaboration is smart. Make sure you do it right. Professional service firms face a serious challenge. Their clients increasingly need them to solve complex problems–everything from regulatory compliance to cybersecurity, the kinds of problems […]

Collaboration Strategy for non-strategists

By on

I sometimes wonder if people think that a collaboration strategy is some kind of office mantra where people walk around like zombies repeating ‘collaboration, collaboration, collaboration’ in perfect harmony. To be fair, more people are getting used to the idea that collaboration is a specifically focussed business strategy […]

Workplace collaboration; getting started

By on

“Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.” Arthur Ashe Research suggests that collaboration is good for business on many levels.  Consider these findings by Deloitte: companies that prioritise collaboration are: Five times more likely to experience a considerable increase in employment Twice […]