THE behaviours of collaboration (5)

Collaboration is your ability to work cooperatively with others, to be part of a team and to work together as opposed to working separately or competitively.  It means working with others towards shared goals and creating group synergy in pursuing collective outcomes. 

This does not mean leaders 'get along' with others. Instead, if you are high in this capability you actively participate with others and enjoy building the capability of those with whom you lead and collaborate. You actively engage and develop those around you to get the job done. 

There are 5 behaviours that make up the Collaborative Capability. Some of these are outlined below. 

collaborative behaviours include:

Is cooperative and shares information willingly to improve the organisation

Sometimes leaders in particular business units and silos have poor habits around information sharing. A lack of awareness can cause leaders to not volunteer information until someone asks for it. This behaviour, therefore, measures the degree to which a leader proactively shares information and cooperates to improve the organisation. 

Builds teamwork and fosters collaboration

This behaviour measures a leader's tendency to actively foster teamwork and implement initiatives and management techniques that drive collaboration.  This could mean rewarding teamwork and creating situations that engender collaboration rather than waiting for collaboration to occur organically (see sample below).

Collaborates across teams, functions and regions - finding common goals

Most organisations have silos, even in shared office space working towards the same strategic outcomes. This behaviour therefore, seeks to measure the degree to which a leader drives collaboration across a variety of barriers (geography, business unit, country) and creates common goals to perpetuate collaboration.