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observe. Ask questions. Get to know others. Chances are the more you listen and become aware, the
more likely you are to find ways to connect.

3. Need help but don’t know how to ask? Clarify your needs. Others can’t read your mind. When
you need help from others, the best thing you can do is ask for it. Before talking to the person, think
about your key messages. What is it that you really want to accomplish? Do you need extra
resources? Ideas? Time? Are there ways for your groups to work together more effectively? Be very
specific around your need and what you are requesting from the other person. Ask plainly. Don’t beat
around the bush. What do they have that you need? What support do you think they can provide?
What difference will this make to you? If you don’t know, explain your situation and ask for their input.
What suggestions do they have? How might they be able to help? If they can’t help, whom can they
suggest? In turn, think about how you can help them. Collaboration is about give-and-take. Where
can you find synergies that benefit the organization and get better results?

4. Lack position power? Be an influencer. Peers generally do not have authority over each other.
That means that influence skills, understanding, and trading are the currencies to use in collaboration.
Don’t just ask for things. Find some common ground where you can provide help. What do the peers
you’re contacting need? Do you really know how they see the issue? Is it even important to them?
How does what you’re working on affect them? If it affects them negatively, can you trade something,
appeal to the common good, figure out some way to minimize the work (volunteering staff help, for
example)? Try to connect your messages to what is important to the other person or their area of the
organization. People are more likely to buy into something, even if it doesn’t help them, if they can
see the broader organizational benefit.

5. Overwhelmed by the complexity of the organization? Learn to maneuver. Wondering how to get
things done across the complexity of the organization? Who are the movers and shakers in the
organization? How do they get things done? Who do they rely on for expediting things through the
maze? Who are the major gatekeepers. Who controls the flow of resources, information, and
decisions? Who are the guides and the helpers? Get to know them better. Who are the major
resisters and stoppers? Learn to watch people and observe behavior before you need to collaborate.
Build relationships with others before you need help. You will have a much better sense of who you
are dealing with and who to trust when the time comes to work together. In a virtual world, you may
need to use different approaches. Face-to-face is usually best. But you may need to be creative in
how to best connect with others outside of your immediate location. Think about cultural norms,
values, and differences before you reach out to others across the organization. Be prepared. Be
observant. Know who you are dealing with before you initiate a conversation.

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