Why a Shared Understanding of Collaboration Matters

Welcome back, dear readers. After a rejuvenating week away, where I became obsessed with the captivating sounds of bluegrass music at Floyd’s Country Store, I returned with renewed vigor and insight for collaboration. Organizations can learn from musicians in a bluegrass band who listen and adapt to each other, creating a harmonious blend far greater than the sum of its parts. But I will save my musical escapades for another time and place. In our last conversation, we ventured into the world of wicked problems, proposing collaboration as not just a strategy, but a necessity for navigating these complex challenges. Today, I aim to demystify collaboration, steering us toward a shared understanding of what it truly means within your organization.

Why define collaboration, you ask? Well, if your experiences mirror mine, you have endured too many so-called “collaborations” that are anything but. Far too often colleagues have invited me to collaborate on a strategic plan they have crafted singlehandedly, though, in truth, they're merely seeking validation or to check the box for teamwork without any meaningful integration of my ideas. Or consider my well-intentioned colleagues who confuse collaboration with the frequency of meetings where they report on their individual activities amidst a chorus of taps and clicks from others multitasking on their phones and laptops. Or…well, you get the point. Where was I?

Oh yes, why the hell should you care about being clear on what collaboration means? Sarcasm aside, there's a notable scarcity of research on defining and subsequently measuring collaboration in business settings. This lack of clarity complicates identifying the skills or leadership qualities needed to foster a truly collaborative culture. Misconceptions about collaboration may mean organizations might mistakenly equate it with the ineffective examples previously mentioned. When these misconceived efforts fail, the too-common response is resignation: "Well, we tried." Thus, the pursuit of the next shiny object begins, leaving the potential of true collaboration unexplored.

Moving towards a shared understanding of collaboration, it is important to recognize that the concept of collaboration has been dissected and debated in academic literature for nearly a century. With the word limit in this article, please forgive me if I don’t walk you through each argument. Instead, let me go to what I argue is the heart of collaboration, by invoking my inner Vygotsky. In one of the seminal principles of learning, Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development highlights the gap between what a learner can achieve independently and what they can accomplish with the support of another, often more experienced partner. This principle underscores the transformative power of collaboration, demonstrating how individuals can move beyond their limits with the help of others.

Dr. Barbara Gray, whose contributions to the study of collaboration I deeply admire, seemingly weaves Vygotsky’s theory into her definition of collaboration. She describes it as "a process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.” I am particularly drawn to this definition for it allows collaboration to be viewed not only as a mindset but as a set of skills, where the sum is greater than its parts.

Collaboration is a process through which parties who see different aspects of a problem can constructively explore their differences and search for solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible.

4 Critical Elements of True Collaboration

To embrace collaboration fully, consider these critical elements:

Emergence: True collaboration isn't about following a rigid plan but allowing the journey toward a common goal to unfold naturally. This openness fosters discovery, enabling new ideas to surface.

Joint Ownership: At the heart of collaboration lies interdependence, with each participant sharing responsibility and ownership over the process and outcomes. This collective commitment is vital for reaching effective solutions.

Innovation: The hallmark of effective collaboration is its capacity to generate outcomes that exceed the sum of its parts, blending ideas and sparking innovations that were previously unimaginable.

Partnership: Genuine collaboration fosters partnerships based on mutual respect and trust, valuing each collaborator equally and laying the foundation for stronger, more effective relationships.

Look, if we acknowledge collaboration as an essential tool in tackling wicked problems, we must cultivate the necessary skills and mindsets within our organizations. The first step? Establishing a shared understanding of collaboration that guides us in identifying the mindsets and skills to develop.