6 Tips For Collaboration

As the cycle of Spring comes into focus, it’s refreshing to feel the warmth of the sun and leave dreary days behind. Nature is in its peak of collaborating to bring forth the next birth process in all of the elements. We are surrounded by a harmony of movements that naturally work together and collaborate. It can be a bit more challenging for humans, so let’s take a few minutes to go through some steps so that with practice it becomes less daunting. 

1. Have a team player mindset. You are still an individual and bring in all of your unique individual traits, which is what the team needs, but you are also a part of the team. Think about what is best for the team as a whole, and work with the team to achieve that goal. 
2. Be actively prepared. Show up ready with your contribution. Be actively involved in the discussions, building of ideas, and the process of problem-solving. The active part here is that you are actively willing to be a part of this process so that the team can get to a point of success. 
3. Comunicate, Communicate, Communicate. This one cannot be emphasized enough. Be clear about what you understand and what you don’t. Voice your opinions in a productive manner, and make sure you clearly understand goals and guidelines. Ask questions. Repeat information back for clarity. It’s always better to have clarity than to not. 
4. Actively listen. This involves not just hearing what the other person says, but involving yourself in what they are telling you. Focus your attention on the person talking, not on your own inner dialogue, and especially not your phone. Pay attention to tone and body language-people say a lot with gestures and tone. 
5. Adapt your Path. Communication and listening lend themselves to adaptability.The key to collaboration is that each personality of uniqueness comes together to find a place of flexibility so that something golden can be created. Be willing to bend a little with the flow of ideas. 
6. Solve the Conflicts. All groups have them. There is no way to get through any set of human circumstances without them. When they arise, address them with honesty, empathy, compassion and clarity. Try to get to the root of the issue. Remember, we all need kindness. Make it a goal to admit frustration and work toward a resolution, but keep focusing on a positive outcome. 

Collaborating might not naturally come to us, but life does present a series of challenges that make learning and perfecting this tool valuable. In bringing the best of our individual selves to the table, we offer perspective and openness. And that is something that is much needed to create a greater sense of compassion in the world. 

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