Search Video Library for: Collaboration
Everybody Wins: How to Turn Conflict into Collaboration™
Deadlines, change, stress, miscommunication, confusion over responsibilities... there is no shortage of opportunities for conflict in the workplace. However, there is a loss of productivity when employees spend all their time dealing with conflict. This program teaches employees to take the initiative in resolving conflict with their coworkers and cooperating to find win/win solutions for most disagreements.
Team Spark: Cheer on Collaboration
An outside energetic and supportive cheerleader can prove essential to the success of the team by offering words of encouragement, and if needed, expertise, suggestions, or technical support.
Team Spark: Collaboration with Skill
Courting a business partner from a different country or cultural background may require research on their cultural views on business relationships, developing trust, negotiation, and communication styles.
Discussion Card: Collaboration
These easy-to-use cards provide a simple model (T.E.A.M. U.P.) along with thought-provoking questions on the power of collaboration and effective teamwork in the workplace. These cards are great for a quick training reminder or conversation starter.
Acknowledge Vulnerabilities - A Quick Conversation
Hermit Crabs live in empty seashells. As they grow they have to find larger shells to move into. In the search for a new shell, the crab is particularly vulnerable to predators. When organizations undergo growth and change, such as becoming more diverse, it often challenges employees to grow in new ways. Just as the crab feels vulnerable when it changes shells, employees in this time of transition may feel particularly susceptible.
Build On The Collective Effort - A Quick Conversation
The survival of a hive of honeybees is dependent upon the collaborative and collective efforts of every bee. The work of the hive is divided into specific tasks, each with designated worker bees. Only when every bee is doing its work can the hive stockpile the honey needed to survive the cold winter. A company is like a beehive that depends upon the collective effort of all of its employees. It is critical that each employee understands their role and how it contributes to the success and of the company.
Find the Missing Ingredient - A Quick Conversation
On the surface, a desert appears sparse and desolate. The harsh conditions do not seem conducive to growth. Yet, on the rare occasions that rain soaks the desert, it becomes a plethora of color and life - often overnight. Sometimes team projects seem like a desert, as if all of the efforts are providing little visible signs of growth. And yet, when the right ingredient arrives, the program flourishes and ‘flowers’ on cue.
Link Different Points of View - A Quick Conversation
The U.S. railroad was started in 1862 during the Civil War. President Lincoln and Congress understood both the symbolism of connecting the country and also the need to think long term, even while the country fought within itself. The railroad removed geographic barriers, spread ideas, and introduced a new way of life – a fresh start that was badly needed. Building a railroad symbolically within a team can mean bridging together two divergent points of view, bringing new insight into a situation.
Team Spark: Adapt to Collaborate
In today’s work environment, finding the time to explore teamwork issues is not easy. This activity is designed to provide quick 10-15 minute team discussions the power of collaboration among projects and teams.
Team Spark: Honor Unique Contributions
The individual brilliance of an employee is not always realized until a group comes together to collaborate. Working with other employees on diverse teams helps each team member to tap into their creativity, often producing ground breaking products and services that could only be discovered through collaboration.
Team Spark: Invest Time to Build Trust
When working on diverse teams, developing trust may take longer due to background differences and different views on what trust means and how it is earned. Building confidence helps to resolve communication issues that may impede team progress. A trusting team will be able to function as a cohesive unit when critical decisions have to be made.
Team Spark: Leverage Broad Expertise
Like building a skyscraper, collaboration on large projects works best when you bring together a team with diverse areas of expertise. On-going and continuous collaboration among disciplines helps to ensure that your project achieves all of its goals when it is completed.
Team Spark: Proverb - If Everyone Has The Responsibility; Nothing Gets Done
Spark team communication on having specific ownership to help ensure a task is completed.
Team Spark: Proverb - Take Responsibility For The Results
Spark team communication understanding the need to reevaluate how people are given responsibility.
Team Spark: Proverb - You Are Limited by What Ties You Down
Spark team communication on how have we faced limitations in the past and yet overcome them.
Team Spark: Understand Your Expertise
Diverse teams with members from different backgrounds will offer an even greater variety of expertise and personalities. While it may take an increased amount of respect and awareness to work in concert, the team has a greater potential for victory.
Craft Your Message With Purpose - A Quick Conversation
An enduring whimsical tradition that many people are familiar with is the act of placing a written message in a bottle and tossing it into the sea. The composer of the message has no idea who is going to receive the message or when they might get it -or if anyone will at all. Not knowing the end recipient of the message limits the ability to communicate with intention. Communication across differences is often done in a similar fashion.
Mentoring 201™ - The Next Steps for Success
A mentor is one of any organization’s greatest resources. Having a committed mentor is a key factor to improving employee engagement - and we know that good engagement means employees will stay longer and their contributions increase. Mentoring 201 takes a closer look at some key elements of the mentor/mentee relationship that includes: planning for a successful discussion, setting goals, identifying career paths and establishing development needs.
Mentoring 101™ - The Basics
When you’re a mentor, you’re really like a coach… someone who can speak from experience… a resource that can give insight, even tips - that will help someone else be successful at what they’re doing. Some organizations have official mentors while others have an informal approach to mentoring. No matter how it happens, as a mentor, you’re filling a vital role to the on-going success of your organization.
Seek Transformation - A Quick Conversation
For weeks after birth, a caterpillar eats continuously; growing nearly 100 times its initial size before it spins itself into a chrysalis. Within the chrysalis, the caterpillar’s robust body completely breaks down into a DNA soup, where it takes several more weeks to reform into a beautiful, adult butterfly. Like the foraging caterpillar, a team spends time nourishing their group culture in order to prosper. However, in order to evolve even further, there comes a time when even the strongest teams need to break down and transform their fundamental team roles, structure, processes, goals, and vision in order to grow.