We are born collaborators. As children we’re taught to share our toys, take turns on the playground, and, perhaps most powerful, use our imagination. These fundamental skills transcend from the playground to the classroom, and later into the workplace.
Overtime, though, we lose the spark once had on the playground. Innovation comes at the cost of time and frustration, and workplace collaboration becomes unproductive. It doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, be this way.
Within this workshop we’ll cover collaboration in detail, outlining practices to help strengthen communication, establish understood roles, self-selected leaders, and work together. Collaboration shouldn’t be futile and a few simple practices can make all the difference in increasing team productivity and happiness.
15. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Follow these directions…
• Fold the paper in half
• Neatly tear off the top right corner
• Fold the paper in half again
• Neatly tear off the top left corner
• Fold the paper in half again
• Neatly tear off the bottom right corner
• Unfold the paper
25. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Collaboration Council
1. Organize into a group
2. Select one leader
3. Write down one of your interests
4. Hand your interest to someone in the group
5. Take turns discussing everyones interests
6. Have the leader recap all of the interests discussed
31. Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
32. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
Ethan
Developer
Helen
Developer
William
Designer
Margaret
Developer
Anna
Manager
Charles
Designer
Arthur
Designer
Elizabeth
Designer
33. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
Ethan
Developer
Helen
Developer
William
Designer
Margaret
Developer
Anna
Manager
Charles
Designer
Arthur
Designer
Elizabeth
Designer
34. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
Ethan
Developer
Helen
Developer
William
Designer
Margaret
Developer
Anna
Manager
Charles
Designer
Arthur
Designer
Elizabeth
Designer
35. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
Ethan
Developer
Helen
Developer
William
Designer
Margaret
Developer
Anna
Manager
Charles
Designer
Arthur
Designer
Elizabeth
Designer
37. Collaboration Practices @shayhowe
Explain
Explains what
they decide
Consult
Consults before
making the
decision
Agree
Agrees with
others on a
decision
Advise
Advises on a
decision
Inquire
Inquires on a
decision
• Identify a new brand color scheme and typeface
• Choose a guest speaker to address the company
• Wire frame the user interface of a new application
• Review the company’s mission statement