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Building and leveraging a Collaboration Mindset in the Era of Egocentrism.

 

In a world increasingly marked by an individualistic and egocentric mindset, the power of collaboration shines as a beacon of hope and progress. The stories of success in sports, business, and the triumph of the human spirit all attest to the transformative power of working together.

 

Collaboration is a powerful force that has shaped some of the most incredible successes in sports, business, and everyday life. From Michael Schumacher's pit crew ensuring his victories on the Formula 1 circuit to LeBron James and his team of coaches, fitness trainers, and physiotherapists propelling him to greatness on the basketball court, the world has witnessed how unity fosters achievement. The essence of collaboration was well capture with the current Rugby World Cup to global corporations. Last Saturday's game between South Africa and England saw late changes in both teams shifting the win in South Africa's favour, even though South Africa was behind most of the game.

 

Consider the remarkable journey of Richard Branson, who used collaboration as a cornerstone of his entrepreneurial success.

 

 

Sports: A Testament to Teamwork In the 2003 Formula 1 season, Michael Schumacher's success wasn't solely his own; it was the culmination of tireless collaboration within his racing team. LeBron James, often lauded for his individual prowess, leans on a network of coaches and specialists to perform at the highest level. A similar spirit was evident in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where South Africa overcame the odds by rallying together, illustrating how collaboration on the field can lead to triumph.

 

 

Business Giants: Collaboration as a Cornerstone Companies like Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber have achieved astonishing growth through their ability to foster collaboration. These giants are built on the principle that many can achieve more together than one can alone. Amazon's marketplace, Airbnb's sharing economy, and Uber's ride-sharing model all exemplify the power of collaboration.

 

 

The Ubuntu Philosophy In South Africa, there's a term that encapsulates collaboration beautifully: Ubuntu. It means "I am because you are, and I can never be until you are."  This philosophy underscores the interconnectedness of humanity and the notion that our collective well-being is  intricately linked to individual well-being. Ubuntu reminds us that true collaboration is rooted in recognizing our shared humanity.

 

 

Five Ways to Become Collaborative:

 

• Have an attitude of service: A mindset of serving others and offering value as opposed creates a positive collaborative environment and protects against resentment.  Ask yourself: “What can I do for others, how can I be of service or support?
• Curious Communication: Transparent and honest communication is key to effective collaboration, especially on matters that may lead to conflict.  Being a curious communicator means one choose to ask curious question for clarity, as opposed to judgment with meaningful engagement. Understand the perspectives of others by actively listening and empathizing.

 

• Respect and embrace Diversity: Embrace diverse viewpoints and skill sets within your team by remaining open to contributions from others.  Gratitude is the cornerstone of respecting other people valuable contribution.  Have posture of learning from others by recognising that they may know something you don’t.

 

• Establish Clear Goals: Ensure everyone is aligned with the same objectives to enable efficiency.  Clearly set out goals helps to identify crucial skills that are required based on all the activities that need to be performed.  Without clear goals, the mission is vulnerable to confusion, miscalculations and wasteful effort.  Clear goals gives people an opportunity to best position themselves for success, theirs and the team.

 

• Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and reward collaborative efforts to foster a positive environment.  This will boost morale and motivate others to do more.  When people’s achievements are not celebrated, they may feel less valued and insecure about their position and the value of their contributions to the team.  This can negatively affect their experience, subsequently leading to some crucial members leaving the team.

 

 

Behaviours that Hinder Collaboration and How to Deal with Them:

 

• Ego-Centrism: Encourage humility and focus on the collective goal.  Watch for a mindset that makes you feel more important than others.  Everyone in a team is important and no one person should assume more importance than others in collaboration.  Collaboration by necessity is a team of equals, no hierarchy.

 

• Lack of Trust: It is laborious if not impossible, to have an optimised environment for success where team members don’t trust each other.  Foster trust through consistent actions and transparency.  It is best to assume posture of radical transparency than to create an environment of secrecy and inconsistency.  Suspicion, conspiracy, negativity fester in low trust environments.

 

• Poor Communication:  Err on the side of over-communication, especially amongst equals than curated confidentiality on account of fears.  There are countless examples of partnerships that have ended up people losing out from the fruits of a successful collaboration.  When unclear, best you gain clarity, when in doubt ask.  This will help close loopholes that are created by poor communication.  Address misunderstandings with open dialogue and active listening. 

 

• Resistance to Change: Resistance to change is a natural human instinct, often stemming from fear of the unknown and a desire to maintain the status quo. In a collaborative effort, change can be more destabilising due to the complexity of multiple parties. However, it's essential to recognise that change presents us with opportunities for growth and adaptability. Embracing change allows us to break free from our comfort zones, explore other possibilities and develop resilience. When we welcome change as a chance to evolve, we not only navigate transitions more effectively but also discover the potential for personal and professional advancement thus optimising our collaborative effort.

 

• Silos and Division: it is imperative to address silos and division within organizations. Silos, whether they be departmental, hierarchical, or informational, can hinder effective communication and cooperation. To foster a more collaborative environment, promote cross-functional cooperation, breaking down these barriers. Encourage teams and individuals to work together across traditional boundaries to have a more holistic approach to problem-solving and to cultivates a culture of shared goals and knowledge exchange.  When we integrate diverse perspectives, it can to unlock the full potential of the workforce and truly develop a collaborative mindset.

 

 

Benefits of Collaborating:

 

• Enhanced Creativity: Collaborating enhances creativity as it encourages individuals to draw on diverse perspectives and insights. When people from different backgrounds and experiences come together, they bring unique ideas to the table, which can lead to innovative and creative solutions to complex problems.

 

• Efficiency: When teams work together with a shared workload and pool their resources, they can achieve quicker outcomes. This synergy minimises duplication of effort, streamlines processes, and ensures that tasks are tackled by those with the most relevant skills.

 

• Personal Growth: Interacting with and learning from others with different skills and knowledge not only contributes to the success of a project but also allows individuals to expand their own skills and knowledge. This learning and skill-building process can be a significant source of personal and professional growth.

 

• Stronger Relationships: By working closely together, individuals build trust, mutual respect, and a sense of unity. These bonds forged through collaboration are essential for effective teamwork and can extend beyond professional bounds, enriching personal relationships as well.

 

• Greater Success: When people work together harmoniously, they can accomplish more faster and tackle more substantial challenges than they could on their own. The combined strengths, talents, and efforts of a group often result in higher-quality outcomes and more impressive achievements.

 

Understanding our challenges with collaboration, including concerns about betrayal or unequal efforts, is the first step in becoming a collaborator. Crucial to remember that while collaboration can be challenging, it's also the key to unlocking unimaginable potential. As we navigate this path, let's recall the wisdom of Ubuntu and the stories of those who have harnessed the power of collaboration to reshape the world. In a world where "I am because you are," each of us can be a part of something greater, together. Embrace the collaborative spirit, and watch as your horizons expand, your goals become attainable, and your successes boundlessly multiply. It's time to become a collaborator.

 

Jabu Zwane is a Mindset Development Specialist, founder of the Mindset Development Institute, Global Speaker, Executive Coach and Thought Leader

Website: www.jabuzwane.co.za