Developing collaboration skills will help you engage more effectively at work and within your community. Research has shown that intelligent collaborators are highly desirable candidates who deliver high-quality results, receive promotions quickly, and draw the favorable attention of senior management. However, collaboration skills are surprisingly rare!
Let's explore some tips and tricks to being an exceptional collaborator:
Be Inclusive
Regardless of your role, take steps to draw diverse people together. Inclusiveness requires a mindset of curiosity and a willingness to learn from others. To start, recognize that different points of view can bring valuable insights and knowledge. Seek out individuals with different perspectives, professional backgrounds, ages, and life experiences. You can achieve more holistic and innovative solutions to problems by including people with diverse backgrounds.
Show Appreciation
A study conducted by Harvard Business School found that workers often take their professional networks for granted. During job interviews, some may even fail to appreciate the support they have received from their colleagues. This lack of gratitude leads them to believe they are more independent and "transferable" than they are. This "me-first" mentality can be a dealbreaker for hiring managers who understand the importance of self-awareness and collaboration skills. Therefore, showing appreciation and acknowledging your colleagues and professional networks is vital. By doing so, you can build stronger relationships and foster a culture of collaboration.
Ask for Help
Collaboration involves bringing people together to solve problems and learn something new. If you perform tasks alone, it suggests you think your opinion is the most valuable. However, reaching out to experts for insights will make your points more compelling. Also, develop your credibility by mentioning the names of those who contributed and their expertise.
Crowdsource
A desire to learn frequently drives voluntary commitment. One way to foster this is to use messaging tools to spur virtual collaboration, knowledge sharing, and knowledge distribution. By creating a platform for people to learn and collaborate, you can create a culture of continuous learning that can benefit everyone in your close and extended networks.
Sharing is Caring
Collaborating and sharing information allows others to learn from it, foster the growth of collective knowledge, and lead to new insights and innovations. And individuals can work together more effectively, improve decision-making, pool resources and expertise to address complex problems and achieve common goals. In addition, by promoting transparency, you will build trust and reduce duplication of effort.
How We Can Help
Developing your collaboration skills requires understanding your communication style and emotional intelligence. Here are two ways we can assist you:
Communication Styles Quiz: This free quiz helps you understand your preferred way to give and receive information. Knowing your unique communication style will help you enjoy collaborating with others.
Emotional Intelligence Quiz: This free quiz can help you recognize and manage your emotions and foster understanding and empathy for others. By developing your emotional intelligence, you'll gain valuable insights into collaborating with others at home and work.
Takeaways
Collaboration skills are essential for success now and in the future. You can develop these skills and gain a competitive edge in the job market by being inclusive, showing appreciation and acknowledgment, asking for help, crowdsourcing, and sharing data streams. By following the tips outlined here, you can develop the skills and mindset needed to be a great collaborator and contribute to the success of your team, organization, and community.
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