THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

This is the 15th post on Empowerment and when you put together all of the other powers that’s I’ve mentioned to date, and focus them into the area of “playing well with others,” then another power emerges. And it is an incredible power, it is the power of collaboration. This is actually the power that has brought the human race to this age of science, technology, space exploration, terrorism, World Wars, the social media, etc. Why? Because we can do so much more together than alone or apart and our history has demonstrated that over and over. When you consider where we are in science, technology, civilization, and so on, it is collaboration that has made the difference.

What is collaboration? Collaboration is people working together to create something that no one individual can create or do by him or herself. This very special state and state-of-mind is far more than just complying to authority. It is more than just cooperating and passively going along with something that you agree with and believe in. It is positively and actively wanting and acting in unity with others for a greater good.

People working together with other people created the Pyramids of old and the great skyscrapers of every modern city today. People working together with others have come together to create unions and cities, and nations and governments. If collaboration refers to working with others, then the opposite is going it alone. The opposite is the drive for independence, of separation, of leading out on your own when no one else believes in your vision. And the fascinating thing about human beings is that everyone of us feels the pull of each of these forces; they are built into our very neurology and psychology. We want to be independent and we want to be a part of a community. We want to be true to our innermost self and we want to be part of a winning team.

Interestingly enough, we all begin life within a collaboration: a family, a community, a town, a nation, etc. Without others, we wouldn’t survive at all. After that begins the developmental pull within us to separate, to individuate, to become a self in our own right, to define ourselves and find our own way. And so begins the individuation process of childhood and the teenage years as we become independent adults. And yet as this process is wrapping up, we feel yet another urge emerging— the social urge, the pull to be a part of a group, to have close friends, to find a special one to love, to become inter-dependent.

The pull of collaboration arises because we are social beings with social needs— for love and affection, for bonding, for companionship, for having colleagues, to be a part of a winning team, to be recognized by peers, to count in their eyes, and so on. Yet so many things can mess up this power— this drive. Ego is a big one. Many people are blocked from creative collaborations

because they have to have things “their way.” They have to have constant recognition, attention, honor, etc.

Others are blocked from effective collaborations because they lack basic social skills: caring about others, listening, supporting, validating, confirming, taking time to be present to them, etc. They didn’t learn the lessons of kindergarten— how to play well with others. They are bossy, demanding, self-centered, critical, sarcastic, judgment, unkind, etc. They are not good team players. Perhaps they were trained to be tyrants and bosses and dictators because that was the kind of leadership modeled for them at home or school or government.

There are many other blocks that interfere with effective collaboration: fear of change, vested interests in the status quo, fear of loss of self in a group; inability to be a part of a community, lack of vision, intolerance, etc.

In today’s interconnected world, collaboration is more important than ever. Neither individuals nor nations can afford to “go it alone,” operate in isolation, or act as independent from the rest of the world. Although, sadly, we see both individuals and nations attempting to do so. Today, big visions and “big hairy audacious goals” takes people working together effectively as high performance teams. Today companies are moving to self-managing teams of people who via their collaboration provide the leadership and management required for their area of responsibility.

This, in fact, describes a self-actualizing family, business, community, and country— people know how to be and operate as a high performance team. They know how to tap into the differences that each brings and enable people to feel an important part of the group. And of course, to facilitate this self-actualizing leaders are required. We need leaders who have the ability to set a vision, pioneer with a collaborative style, pull people together, and work through the conflict of differences so that a group spirit emerges, a community of care.

The power of collaboration is today creating new companies and is forecasting what corporations will be like in the future. In fact, the most successful companies today are the result of collaborative partnerships— people working together for a mutual benefit. Those who do not develop this personal power will be left behind. Now for some personal questions: Do you know how to effectively collaborate with others? Are you collaborative in your nature and style? Do you enjoy the process of collaborating with others? Do you know how to be an effective team player? If not, then call for a Meta-Coach immediately or get to a training by a Licensed Neuro- Semantic Trainer! Collaboration is our middle name.