The Power of Collaboration
I recently had the opportunity to co-facilitate a workshop for 140 people on the topic of “Collaboration”. Using a simulation, teams of 12 worked together to build wind turbines. They had 2 opportunities to build, and first-time around – no surprise – they all failed.
When asked what led to their failure, initial responses all pointed to external factors like time, location, schematic photos, turbine pieces, etc. Only when pushed did they mention some of the things that they did or did not do that led to their failure.
Using the lessons learned from round 1, we explored ways to unlock the power of team collaboration, including:
- Taking Personal Accountability – Shifting from blame to ownership to build personal and team trust.
- Developing Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – Identifying and managing emotional triggers to improve decision-making and relationship quality.
- Building and Sustaining Trust – Recognizing behaviors that erode or strengthen trust within teams.
- Leveraging Cultural Diversity – Navigating intercultural differences to enhance team collaboration and reduce misunderstandings.
- Handling Conflict Constructively – Aiming for outcomes that balance task resolution with relationship preservation.
- Delivering Constructive Feedback – Providing feedback that is clear, respectful, and actionable, to strengthen team relationships.
Before embarking on round 2, teams applied these learnings to make sure they:
- Established clear goals and roles
- Fostered open communication
- Leveraged individual strengths
- Embraced diversity and Inclusion
- Celebrated milestones together
All teams were successful in round 2 and loud cheers were heard across the room! The power of collaboration cannot be overstated. When individuals with diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences work together effectively, they can achieve outcomes far beyond what any one person could accomplish alone.
Our team collaboration workshops help learners enhance communication, strengthen trust, and equip team members with practical strategies to work more effectively together.
Helen Schneiderman, Partner
helens@kwelaleadership.com
