Collaboration

 What?

            Collaboration is working together through communication. Through collaboration, we can build relationships and trust. Collaboration has always been a part of my life. I have collaborated as a kid by working on partnered class projects or working as a team in gym class. As a teenager, I learned to collaborate by doing similar things as a kid like working on projects. I also learned through working as a team for color guard. As a young adult I also learned collaboration through group projects, but I also learned it more in the jobs I have held and the classes I have taken. All of the jobs I have had so far in my life have been very collaboration-based. While you can complete the tasks at hand by yourself, it’s much easier if you have someone there to help and support you.  

So What?

            Collaboration is important because it allows us to grow as people. One of the things that I remember greatly from my leadership classes is that when working in groups, you want to have people who are different than you. This is because this is a great way to learn. Throwing yourself into unfamiliar territory may be scary but you will learn far more than if you went the safe route. Through collaboration, we teach and show one another new ways of thinking and doing. If we all thought the same, there would be no innovation.

Now What?

            Collaboration is an ongoing thing in all of our lives. You will collaborate in relationships, jobs, and practically all aspects of your life. This summer for me is going to take a lot of collaboration. As I have stated in my previous posts, I will be at a summer camp for the second year in a row this summer. This year we are revamping the program I direct and will need lots of ideas and help from other directors, as well as other staff members and even the campers. I want to be able to make a great program that will last. Last summer was difficult and I didn’t receive much collaboration from the other directors and was really left in the dark as to what I was supposed to do. Many mornings I didn’t have a clue as to what I would be doing in my classes. This summer is going to be much different since I have more confidence in having more collaboration and communication.

References

Komives, S. R., & Wagner, W. (Eds.). (2017). Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model of leadership development. John Wiley & Sons.