Credo #3: Strong Collaboration is Intentional Collaboration
The most powerful collaboration is proactive and intentional. Great groups plan their collaboration in advance.
Great teams don't just react with collaboration. They plan for it.
For most people, teamwork is about being helpful and supportive. The so-called great team player is there for you. He's always ready to lend a hand when asked. She’s got your back when things go south. Those are worthy attributes. But that’s teamwork as a reaction, it’s collaboration as an after-thought.
The most powerful collaboration, on the other hand, is proactive and intentional. Great groups figure out in advance which work they must do together, they plan for and create the space for collaboration. They’re equally clear about which work is better done by individuals. When work needs collaboration, the people involved commit to specific pieces of the task and hold each other accountable for the roles they’ll play. As the work moves along intentional teammates are sticklers about checking in with each other. They’re helpful, they have each other’s backs, but more importantly they’re staying out in front of their work together.
