10 Tips for Successful Collaboration
Collaboration is a practice that is not only applied to business dealings; it can also be beneficial to students, professionals, and members of any organization. It refers to the act of combining resources, talents, and efforts of two or more individuals or groups to achieve a mutually beneficial goal. Collaboration can help you achieve a level of success that you will not be able reach on your own. If you are planning to collaborate with another person, group, company, or organization, you will have great success if you follow these tips:
• Collaboration should begin the very moment you intend to start a project. You should be aware that collaborating with someone is very different from working on your own, and you have to take your partner's preferences and resources into consideration as well.
• When you are collaborating, you will create an energy that is larger than both your partner and you. Use masterminding techniques and principles to make your project as impressive as possible.
• Make sure that your partner and you agree on every aspect of the project. If there are areas that your partner is not pleased with, you should discuss with him or her whether to include or discard them.
• After establishing a common vision with your partner, you can proceed to writing a mission statement and developing a plan. Then, determine the tasks that each of you should perform. Be very specific.
• The next thing to do is to make a contract with your partner and have it notarized. Include information such as time and monetary commitments, as well as the division of benefits.
• To make sure that your project will be completed on time, you have to create a schedule for meetings. Track deadlines for achieving certain goals, and make sure that both of you will not miss any meeting.
• Everybody has different abilities, opinions, and methods of working, and you should accept your partner's ways unconditionally. If you try to get him or her to follow your ways instead, there will be constant discontentment and tension, which can jeopardize the project.
• If your partner has a unique skill, allow him or her to use that skill to contribute to the project. Trust goes a long way in making your collaboration a success.
• If you have any doubts or concerns, you should not hesitate to let your partner know. Express your feelings and opinions, and encourage your partner to do the same. This will ensure that all problems will be solved before they get out of hand.
• It is also important that you have a good relationship with your partner. Working with someone you like can make your project a lot more exciting. If your collaboration is built on trust, respect, and great humor, you will have a great time working on the project.
About the Author
Charlie Conrad is an independent project manager and contributing subject matter expert for Vantage: The Social Approach to Project Management. Visit http://projectvantage.com to learn more and signup for a free trial of Vantage project management software at http://www.projectvantage.com/index.php/pricing to get started. Each trial includes 10 free user accounts to share, so get social with your projects today.
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here