Collaborating does not mean always seeking complete agreement. According to the Harvard Business Review,
sometimes when working in groups, people ask permission and seek consensus for everything, and with this, it seems as if responsibility and making difficult decisions are avoided. It's also important to practise decision-making, make tough calls, and feel comfortable delivering difficult news.
Collaboration can be categorised into three types: two that require less time or effort but are vital, such as sharing networks or passing on existing knowledge, and a third personal type that demands deeper involvement. Listening, evaluating, and offering opinions can be time-consuming and tiring.
Here are some strategies for effective and smart collaboration:
According to a study by economist Heather Sarsons at Harvard University, collaborative work between women in economics positively impacts their career success.
It is important to analyse and allocate your time wisely. People often spend too much time helping and communicating with groups, neglecting their actual work, resulting in 80% of their time spent on collaboration and only 20% on actual tasks.
Collaboration has two aspects. Not only do you help others, and collaborate with them, but you also have to be able to ask for help when needed. It can be hard because it can seem like you look weak, but according to experts, you have to do it if you want to advance in your careers.
As challenging as it may be, it's crucial. This is discussed in another article.
Effective collaboration can significantly improve your work results and boost your confidence. How are you going to handle your next group project?