Tuesdays with Michael: The Why and How of Collaboration

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By Michael Gidlewski

When you hear the word collaboration, what comes to mind? What does this word mean to you? How is it different from teamwork or cooperation?

In a Psychology Today article entitled “Collaboration: It’s Not What You Think,” Debrah Mashek explains that collaboration is characterized by organizational commitment, high levels of trust, and a willingness to share. She points out that those involved in collaboration understand that learning from each other is essential to achieving their shared goal in the best way possible.

Our partner, Results.com, includes integrated collaboration as one of the “four pillars” to producing extraordinary results. I could not agree more.

Collaboration drives communication throughout the organization. According to Paul J. Meyer, founder of Leadership Management International, “communication – the human connection – is to the key to personal and career success.” Collaboration ensures that information is clearly delivered and received throughout the organization.

This means that the company vision and values are known, committed to, and acted upon. Each person knows the goals of the company and his or her role in achieving them. The team can identify why they are doing what they are doing and have a plan to achieve its goals.

Collaboration helps to motivate members of your team because everyone is informed about progress toward goals. Allowing your people to see how their contributions “move the needle” creates a culture of enthusiasm and promotes accountability.

Collaboration has incredible benefits, but it is not always so simple to achieve. The size and structure of an organization can inhibit the ability for face-to-face meetings and complicate the process of clearly communicating information. We all know that whisper down the lane never ends with the original story.

There are many tools marketed today to help assist with collaboration, but the challenge is to find a tool that keeps track of metrics in real time all in one place. We have found that Results.com’s Business Management Platform does that and so much more.

Click here to learn more about Integrated Collaboration and Result.com’s software.

True collaboration is a best practice for achieving success. Everyone in your organization will be on the same page and know his or her role in the company’s strategic plan. Collaboration facilitates team cohesion, which maximizes productivity and improves results.

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Michael Gidlewski is President of West Chester-based Achievement Unlimited, Inc., as well as a growth catalyst and motivational speaker. He works with motivated business owners and entrepreneurs to clearly define the elements of what they dearly want their businesses and lives to look like, then helps them connect all the moving parts that make up those visions to consistent action and habits. Michael can be reached at 610-793-6609 or via e-mail at michael@achievable.com.

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