Many organisations thrive in competitive scenarios and often competitive mindsets become part of the internal infrastructure of inter-personal and group behaviours. This may not be the best way of delivering outstanding results. Collaboration may be better because of the contribution and aggregate intelligence that can be generated by many people working collectively to achieve a common goal or outcome.

One definition of collaboration is: the generative process which results from 2 or more people with diverse viewpoints coming together with the intention to create something entirely new, and which is superior to that which any one person could have created alone.

In a business context, collaboration is more than a meaningful conversation. It could also be described as –

¨ A central organising principle which replaces the traditional hierarchy as a primary means of managing and leading organisations

¨ A way of being, including a shift in people’s values, beliefs and behaviours in the way that they work together

¨ A people based approach which embraces the diversity of people and provides an environment that includes everyone’s contribution

¨ A framework for making decisions, solving problems and achieving extraordinary results.

In collaborative settings, all individuals need to be invested in the process and demonstrate a commitment to long term results. Collaborative work groups have a strong team identity and identify themselves as one unit (as opposed to a group of individuals). Tasks are a shared responsibility of the team. Collaboration is time consuming, yet can yield the most thorough and committed outcomes.

If we examine some of the language that occurs in competitive and collaborative environments, we would hear some of the following:

Competition: “I had to weigh in with my opinion”

“You have to watch your back around here”

“You’ll lose out if you maintain that position”

“There are winners and there are losers and if you don’t want to be a loser, then …….. “

Collaboration: “Let’s work together on this and use the best of our collective thinking”

“It’s not what I can do, it’s what we can do”

“Let’s pool our resources and see where we can collectively get to”

“The goal is bigger than the individuals”

Which types of comments do you hear in your organisation? And what kind of results will they lead to?

Do you have any situations and opportunities that would benefit from using a collaborative rather than a competitive approach in your team or department currently?

William Wallace©

Business Coach and Development Manager, Corporate Alchemy