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• Doesn’t communicate well.
• Poor time management.

• Possessive.

Brain booster
For better or worse, our brains are set to a default position when it comes to people we don’t know.
Strangers are foes until proven otherwise. At the heart of collaboration lies relationship. Relying on
others. Sharing ideas and being vulnerable. Sharing resources. These all go more smoothly when your
brain sees your collaborators as friends, not foes. Fortunately, the brain is wired to read social cues and
pick up on people’s intent behind their actions. Our brains have neurons that mirror in our minds the
actions we see others taking. That is how we are so good at determining positive or negative intent—in
our minds we are mirroring the action we’re observing. When the brain interprets positive intent, it adds
more points to the “friend” column. And once our brains categorize someone as a friend (or not a threat),
our bodies release oxytocin, a chemical that denotes and promotes a feeling of trust, safety, and
connectivity. Show positive intent. Give time for teams and partnerships to build trust. Facilitate more
opportunities for positive social cues to be exchanged between strangers. These efforts will pay off when
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it comes time to collaborate.

Tips to develop Collaborates

1. Have a decision to make? Think collaboration. People are more likely to be motivated to support a
decision that they have helped make. When a decision is required, first think about whether it can be
made in a collaborative manner. That’s not always the case. The need for speed may override
involvement. But, in most cases, inclusive decision making drives more effective solutions. Deeper
analysis. More creative ideas. Buy-in from those involved. Who needs to be involved? Who has a
stake in the decision? Who needs to buy in? Consult with others and share information. Ask people
what they want to know. Make sure you give them a sense of the big picture and relevant information.
Invite input and feedback. Then, listen. What do they think is the core issue? What ideas do they
have? Brainstorm to work out a decision that has the greatest benefit.

2. Not clear on where others are coming from? Work to make connections. Collaboration is not just
creating dialogue. It is about making connections with others. Research suggests that the best
collaborators are connectors. They connect ideas outside of the organization with internal challenges.
They help build bridges throughout the organization. Ultimately they link people, ideas, and resources
that would not normally connect with one another. The key is to connect. Build trust. Build
relationships. Connect your priorities to those of others. In each situation where you are working with
other people, it is important to think about their perspective. Where are your viewpoints similar?
Where are they different? Relate your goals to theirs. Are there interdependencies? What initiatives
or projects do you have in common? How do your values align? Bring similarities to the forefront.
Look for ways that you can bring external ideas into the discussion. Link resources. Shine a light on
alignment between groups and individuals. Don’t think there are connection points? Watch and

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