- livingthedash.tv

I recently watched a video in which Pixar’s Randy Nelson points out that cooperation is not a synonym for collaboration.

I had never thought of cooperation and collaboration like that. In fact, I always just considered collaboration to be a beefed up version of cooperation.

Maybe what we have always thought to be collaboration within our teams and organizations is really just cooperation.

How can we move beyond cooperation to collaboration?

With cooperation….

I will respond to you or answer your question if you communicate with me via my preferred method of communication.

With collaboration….

We will use the method of communication that is best for our team. If appropriate, our questions and responses will be visible to others on our team (or even beyond our team) so that they can also contribute answers and benefit from the information.

With cooperation….

I will provide the finished deliverable to you on the agreed upon due date.

With collaboration….

We publish early drafts of deliverables so that others can provide valuable input and feedback early in the process.

With cooperation….

I will stay quiet until spoken to at meetings. I will answer the questions that you ask and verbally support all your decisions and proposals.

With collaboration….

We will actively participate in meetings.  We will brainstorm and welcome ideas from everyone involved. We will challenge each other and debate issues.

With cooperation…

I will store and organize information in my own personal storage system and I will provide that information to you upon your request.

With collaboration….

We store and organize information in an online, searchable repository so that the information is readily available for the benefit of everyone on our team and organization.

With cooperation….

I will help you if you help me.

With collaboration….

We will help each other so that our team and organization can meet it goals, perform its mission, and achieve its vision.

I work for a global corporation with a very distributed workforce.  In an average week, I interact with other employees across the globe:  California, Washington, Idaho, Chicago, New England, India, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, and various parts of Europe.

It works most of the time.

• Our company can hire the best and the brightest…regardless of location.
• Technology has shrunk the planet.  Email, IM, screen sharing, online shared workspaces, and video conferencing make it relatively easy for people to communicate and collaborate across great distances.
• Diversity of backgrounds and diversity of cultures brings value to the team.
• Our company can save money by utilizing less office space as employees work from home.

Sometimes it doesn’t work.

• No whiteboards.  We lose the power of the whiteboard.
• Less conversation.  Stuff like hearing the story of your son’s little league home run and talking about last night’s episode of The Office and just chatting over lunch do make a difference when it comes to teamwork.
• There is something about having the team together in one room for a brainstorming or problem-solving session.  We can use technology to try and replicate that with a distributed workforce, but it is not quite the same.
• Timezones.  Early morning, lunch time, and late night meetings are just part of the deal when you have to accommodate numerous timezones.

I’m torn on this issue.  I’m a lover of technology and I’m confident that it is going to get even better at eliminating the barriers that geographical distance brings.  But I also miss the days of gathering with teammates face-to-face in front of a whiteboard to tackle a big issue.

Which model do you prefer?  Going global or face-to-face?

I’ve been reading through Marcus Buckingham’s new book titled The Truth About You: Your Secret To Success.

The book is a nice follow up to other Buckingham strengths-based books like…….

- Now, Discover Your Strengths

- Go, Put Your Strengths To Work

The book is actually more of a toolkit.  The toolkit includes…….

1 // Enhanced DVD

From The Back Cover: A high-energy film reveals how and why you must discover and prioritize your strengths.  It includes five bonus Strength Tip videos and access to a wealth of downloadable resources.

My Take: The film is great.  Well made.  The story of a young trombone player plays out while Marcus Buckingham effectively explains the strengths-based approach described in the book.

2 // Interactive Book

From The Back Cover: With insightful exercises and tried-and-true life wisdom no one else will tell you, the book takes you to the location of your most powerful and unchanging talents.

My Take: I was surprised by the shortness of the book.  Not necessarily a bad thing.  I breezed through the book in about 30 minutes.  I would recommend taking the time to work through the exercises that Buckingham teaches in the book.  The exercises will help you identify and document your Strengths and Weaknesses or, more specifically, your I feel strong when…. and I feel weak when…. statements.

3 // ReMemo Pad

From The Back Cover: Designed for a life on-the-go, the ReMemo Pad becomes your companion to complete the task of revealing your strengths using everyday experiences.

My Take: The ReMemo Pad is nothing more than a plain memo pad designed to help you jot down activities that make you feel strong or make you feel weak.  But it is a nice addition to the toolkit because making note of your daily and weekly activities and how they make you feel is the first step to identifying your true strengths and weaknesses.

My key takeaway from the book was the 3 Myths // 3 Truths presented by Buckingham……

Myth #1

As you grow, your personality changes.

Truth #1

As you grow, you become more and more of who you already are.

Myth #2

You grow the most in your areas of greatest weakness.

Truth #2

You grow the most in your areas of greatest strength.

Myth #3

A great team member puts his strengths aside and does whatever it takes to help the team.

Truth #3

A great team member volunteers his strengths to the team most of the time and deliberately partners with people who have different strengths.