Jan 21 2008

Getting Groups to Collaboration Posted 4 years 118 days ago ago by Doug Lawrence     0 Comments

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Let's define our terms...

Cooperation: the process of working together to the same end.

Collaboration: the process of working with someone to produce or create something.

Two words so closely related, yet so completely unrelated when it comes to the ways in which groups often work together. Collaboration always and uniquely suggests that something will be created—something will come into existence. This is a very different process than working together toward the same end.
 
You might conclude...

• People who work together toward the same end often don’t create anything.

• Creation comes from a unique blending of skills and temperaments brought together by a common goal.

• Creation is more than a pleasant surprise—it’s a way of working, and a step toward real, resourceful, and innovative change.

Here are some steps for collaborative groupings of people:

• Choose the right team and limit the number of people who bring similar gifts to the enterprise.

• Empower the group to actually create something new.

• Make a checklist of hoped for results without limiting the expectation that the outcome might be beyond the thinking of traditional models.

• Define deliverables for each member of the group.

• Decide on a date for completion. Try not to work “against” that date—rather, focus your excitement around hoped for results and the “good” of the your work together.

• Define a synergistic style of working together, praising each member of the group for their uniqueness.

• Decide how decisions are to be made, leaving the possibility that no decisions made will limit the potential to start over if needs be.

• Define what will constitute consensus (majority vs. absolute majority).

• Decide how the individual will communicate progress to the rest of the group.

• Decide how many “outsiders” will have access to the project and set realistic limitations on what is proprietary information and what is just the gathering of informed opinion from others.

• Allow time at every gathering of the group to build trust and relationship.

• Find ways to praise as much as possible, while still evaluating comments of the group’s members.

• Construct moments of free-form discussions where all ideas are expressed without judgment.

• Identify people in the group (other than the chairperson) who are skilled at redefining vague content and let them lead discussions to limit unclear terms and ideas.

• Celebrate every milestone. That might mean taking a break from the process or going for a steak dinner. Celebration is like laughter—it clears the way for fresh starts and new thinking.

• Summarize by contrast. Define your success by contrasting it with the challenge you were facing before you started. Creative thinking always strives toward a better plan, style, or behavioral objective.

• If possible, always present your discoveries to others with engaging visuals. Creativity is usually perceived best when presented visually.

Conclusions drawn...

If we look at the way groups get things get done, we are often amazed that so many people working on one project accomplished so little. There is a way to increase productivity when you delegate tasks to folks. Follow the outline above and help them assume that something really new is going to emerge from their labors. Let them be truly creative. Try not to let them have low expectations where high expectations will reap such rich rewards. A special note of thanks to my colleague, Hugh Ballou, whose teaching on building strong teams has taught me so much. He's the best! You might want to look at his book, Building High Performance Teams.

Doug Lawrence, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, helps churches assess and improve their skillfulness in creating engaging worship experiences by utilizing his more than 35 years of "deep trench" worship leadership in prominent mainline churches. has been a consultant to church leaders for 35 years and is anxious to be helpful to you in leadership, musical, and staffing considerations. Or, if you wish, call 650.207.8240 for assessment information and scheduling.

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