The Hawaiian concept of collaboration is laulima, which means cooperation, joint action, a group of people working together or community. It translates to “many hands make light work.”
Research suggests that as women, we can be highly effective collaborators, and that our presence in groups can enhance collaboration. This is true for a number of reasons. We are known for our ability to empathize and perceive others’ emotions. We are more likely to actively listen, solicit opinions and take turns contributing. We can also more easily build trust with one another, and trust strengthens the collaborative spirit.
As women business owners, the value we place on relationships is a strong factor in determining how collaborative our cultures are—within our businesses, our professional organizations and our communities. According to the Harvard Business Review, relationship-heavy cultures are marked by inclusion, personal connection and relationship-based decision-making. They tend to be warm, friendly places, where people tend to experience rapid progress.
Our NAWBO sisterhood demonstrated this with the historic passing of H.R. 5050, The Women’s Business Ownership Act. We continue to collaborate in the development of a federally recognized Microbusiness Definition that will help small business entrepreneurs with access to capital.
A collaborative culture is defined as one where collaboration is regular and deliberate. It doesn’t just occur if someone happens to initiate it; it is baked into the processes of how people do their work and the attitudes they have about it. Moreover, it’s a culture that values the idea that we are better together and that collective intelligence drives the most creative solutions.
So how can we help to make all the spaces we are part of more collaborative? Start by making collaboration intentional. Make sure people know that you value teamwork and them as individual contributors. Here are some additional ideas to consider:
- Invest in digital tools like messaging apps and other technology platforms, which make it easier for teams to collaborate and be productive. This can also help with inclusiveness with remote or distant workforces.
- Help people build meaningful bonds. A culture of collaboration creates space for people to communicate openly and honestly, which fosters trust, creativity and personal connection.
- Create reasonable expectations with your team up front. This includes the understanding that occasionally decisions may still be made against what it is they wanted, though it doesn’t mean that they weren’t listened to, heard or appreciated for their suggestion. Leaders of collaborative organizations must learn to “detach from personal outcomes” as they navigate their teams toward introspective solutions while staying on target.
- Give feedback often. Celebrate and encourage team members as they are learning how to better collaborate. And make sure to ask them how they like to receive feedback so there are no “hurt” feelings in the process. Be careful with words for sensitive discussions. Celebrate team wins in a timely way, no matter how big or small!