What is collaboration?

I think collaboration is a misunderstood word. There are two definitions for the word. Here is the first:

1.  the action of working with someone to produce or create something.

The second definition is quite different:

2.  traitorous cooperation with an enemy.

How often do we avoid collaboration with a co-worker to do something great (definition #1) because we are concerned that we won’t get credit or don’t want someone else involved (definition #2)?

True collaboration has the goal of creating something great, period. To do that, we have to be vulnerable—to new ideas, to being proven wrong and to sharing the joy of that creation. The only “enemy” involved is us—our pride, selfishness or insecurity that stops us from doing it.

Barry LaBov

LABOV Marketing Communications and Training

www.labov.com