What is collaboration? To many it is working together with another company but is that collaboration or is it outsourcing? When I’ve asked questions and commented on Linkedin it seems to me that most people just see collaboration as working with someone else irrespective of the payments. I disagree - to be a real collaboration you need to pool ideas and share responsibility for a project. It’s only when you can work at that level that real collaboration and great innovation happens.Over the past few years I’ve dabbled at collaboration - I love the concept but have found that you need to identify the people you work with carefully and also know your own expectations and limitations.
The process of looking for collaborators is a great way to expand your network and get closer to like-minded people but do know what you want to get out of it or you could end up with lots of great meetings but little actual benefit. By benefit I mean tangible opportunities.
I recently employed Kate of Passionate PA to cover a job for me - I was busy on another project and whilst I could manage the client and plan the event I couldn’t actually get out to the event. Kate went out to Amsterdam on my behalf and managed the onsite logistics for me. Meanwhile, I handled a small event for her whilst she was in Amsterdam. It worked really well and we both got something out of it but I wouldn’t say it’s collaboration. Our relationship was about networking, getting to know someone personally and outsourcing to our mutual benefit.
Collaboration is about working together towards a common goal. A group of colleagues from Business Xchange have got together to launch an online magazine called Whatify. This is true collaboration - they’ve sat down, created the project, allocated roles and work together on a future that works of all of them.
So what do you need to collaborate? Personally I think you need to be able to think outside the box, to be able to work slightly outside your comfort zone, and above all to know yourself and your limits. It’s a sharing of time, responsibility and profit. It won’t suit everyone and you need to look carefully at the people you are thinking of collaborating with and go into it with an open mind. It can create amazing things but it is a bit like a partnership so do go into it with your eyes open.
I haven’t found a project that I have time and ongoing motivation to join yet but I’m out there looking as I really do think that for small businesses it’s a great way to open your mind and your working life to new opportunities.
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