EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION: A CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.

A Lecture Presented by Alh. Wasiu O. Adumadeyin FIMC, at the South West Professional Educators Conference Held on May 30th, 2019 at National Theatre, Igomu, Lagos state.

“No man is an island,” the English poet John Donne once wrote. Nearly 400 years later, if you’re into creative, ambitious work as ours, that sentiment is truer than ever—collaboration is very essential.

Collaborating means hearing people out, melding different ideas together, and building toward a shared objective. It enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common business purpose

Keys to effective collaboration

1. Communication: This is the most important aspect of effective collaboration in any organisation. Collaboration doesn’t work if only one person does all the talking. Fostering a collaborative space means making room for other people to share their ideas—even the shy ones. For example, instead of saying:

“You already know that idea is unrealistic, so just drop it”

Say “That’s an interesting idea. How do you see it fitting into this project?”

2. Awareness : We become part of a working entity with a shared purpose
3. Motivation : We drive to gain consensus in problem solving or development
4. Self-synchronization : We decide as individuals when things need to happen
5. Participation : We participate in collaboration and we expect others to participate
6. Mediation : We negotiate and we collaborate together and find a middle point
7. Reciprocity : We share and we expect sharing in return through reciprocity
8. Reflection : We think and we consider alternatives
9. Engagement: We proactively engage rather than wait and see. Collaboration relies on openness and knowledge sharing but also some level of focus and accountability on the part of the organizations.Part of getting people to open up and share valuable ideas is helping them feel like they’ll be heard. That means being patient and generous—a facilitator, not an autocrat.

Why is collaboration a catalyst for sustainable growth?

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• It moves an organisation more effectively towards its goals.

A Work.com study found that “97 percent of employees and executives agreed that the level of collaboration directly impacts the outcome of a task or project. When a team or department is collaborating smoothly, openly sharing information and able to communicate seamlessly, they are able to work at their most effective level.”(www.work.com)

• It creates greater flexibility.

Today’s collaborative technology, such as tablets and smartphones, video conferencing and desktop sharing seemlessly links end users, and enabling employees to work more flexibly than the traditional 7-to-4 day. Many end users are able to work from home and on the road, and even take advantage of real-time collaborative capabilities with remote coworkers around the globe. This implies that,as a school owner, your physical absence is not in anyway a problem. You can reach out to your clients (parents) and your staff to resolve issues in real time which translates to productivity and growth.

This level of flexibility fits many end users’ lifestyle better than a strict eight-hour workday. And improved flexibility can lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness. In fact, a 16-year study by Idea Champions recently found that only 3 percent of people come up with their best ideas at work. The other 97 percent said they encounter great ideas throughout their day, at home, on vacation and even in the shower. With the mobile capabilities of collaboration technology, workers are able to take advantage of sudden bursts of creativity and productivity – rather than confining both to the office.

• Collaboration creates innovation. By surrounding yourself with various perspectives, your team will be introduced to ideas and systems they might never encounter otherwise. This will often lead to fresh thinking and better solutions within your own school. New ideas we know brings innovation, and innovation makes your school stand out.
• Collaboration reduces unnecessary risk. In a partnership, the success and credit are shared with others. But the risk is, too. There is a joint investment of time, resources and brainpower that reduces risk. In the area of risk reduction is where NAPPS has really done more than enough! Through its innovative programmes and partnership, NAPPS has proved to be,not just a shoulder to lean on, but a listening ear, a partner and an intermediary between schools and other organizations for that improvement and deisred growth at a minimal risk. This is because, NAPPS understands that a business with low risk has greater prospects for growth compare to one with much or unshared risk.
• Collaboration amplifies success. A simple rule drives collaboration: more input leads to more output. When you convene more innovators and leaders, you’ll gather more ideas and have more hands to have a larger pot to propel the project forward. As a result, partnerships often amplify success beyond what a single team might otherwise achieve, resulting in a win/win.

Some Factors that impede effective collaboration and growth

• Lack of vision: Some organisations exist without a clear vision. Where this is the case, collaboration is impossible as employees find it hard to know where to direct their efforts towards.
• Sentimens/unprofessionalism: growth can’t occur where we have a square peg in a round hole. You don’t have to put your wife, or relative in a position requiring certain skills he/she lacks and expect progress. This will lead to failure.
• Lack of communication: Communication is key to growth. Most school owners make the mistake of keeping vital information from their managers in the name of protecting the organisation. If your manager does not know the state of things in your school,how would he/she strategies for growth? Open and honest communication is indispensable for growth.

Conclusion

The concept of collaboration has become so pronounced and effective in the day to day running of organisations and institutions such that it’s almost a sin if one fails to collaborate. For us in the most delicate and demanding sector-the education sector, it’s so imperative that collaboration become a culture of we most have sustainable growth.

Alh Wasiu O Adumadeyin FIMC,

President, NAPPS Lagos State.

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