Part Two: Finding Your Own Collaborative Style
Creating an effective team is not as simple as finding a bunch of people and locking them in a room together. When considering collaboration, there are two different kinds of collaborative relationships that must be examined and acknowledged. In many ways, it may be thought of as having differences in your friendships and relationships. You may have friends who you find are extremely similar to you, with the same tastes and preferences; or you may have a partner whose personality represents the opposite to your own, and yet you get along. In professional collaboration, these two different relationships may be classified as homogeneous, or heterogeneous.
Homogeneous collaboration
This sort of collaborative effort consists of working with one or more other ‘clones’ of yourself; people who are very similar in their ideas, work habits and methods. Advantages to this relationship include less conflict, and an ease in getting things done quickly. Although the ‘many hands make light work’ proverb may ring true here, there is also the possibility that not many new ideas may come to light. Less diversity means less inspiration, often resulting in stagnant ideas and continuation of bad habits.
Heterogeneous collaboration
The opposite relationship is that of selecting collaborators who are different and diverse in their knowledge to your own field or specialisation. Accessing knowledge from other domains than your own mean an extreme diversity and even an upgrade in your own skill set, solving problems using methods you may have never heard of. As famous economist and philosopher John Stuart Mill noted in 1848, one of the primary sources of progress is that which occurs when human beings place each other in contact with those dissimilar to themselves. Although this type of collaboration induces new insights and can spur creativity, it commonly results in arguments and a difficult journey on the way to a goal. However, over time and with a team effort, this collaboration can result in an interesting and successful method made up of a variety of styles.
Three Ways To Define Your Collaborative Style
1. Consider others around you
Examine the work habits and collaborative styles of those you will be working with. Through discussion with these people, it should become evident very quickly whether the style of the team leans towards homogeneous or heterogeneous, or perhaps a mix between the two.
2. Understand and accept diversity
Realise that there will be many different people drawn together and essentially to expect the unexpected. Outcomes of collaboration are diverse and you may need to take alternative approaches dependent on the skill-sets of those involved, the scale of the project and both short and long term goals.
3. Constantly re-assess and re-evaluate
Regularly schedule meetings to provide feedback and group discussion on how the collaborative effort is progressing: as people change and grow in their roles, so do their needs. By re-assessing the well-being of the group you will maintain perspective on individual and collective needs and wants.
