Intentional Work, LLC

In the United States we pride ourselves in being pioneers and have a, often misplaced, sense of self-reliance. We can do it alone, by ourselves and without help. But how often is that the case in business anymore. None of us has the ability to do it all. Thank goodness. More and more, better business is being done by groups. Whether those are people that work together under the same masthead, or not. They are people coming together to get business done.

The idea is profound. Collaboration is a cornerstone to the foundation of success. When we can utilize our strengths and our weakness are filled in because they are the strengths of others, it becomes a more balanced scenario. Plus it's a lot more fun.

I love group dynamics. Helping create synergy with people who have never worked together before, or people who have been on the same team for a while, it's always fascinating to me how the human dynamic is at play.  I've noticed, over my years in both the corporate world and entrepreneur world, group dynamics can sink the ship or land a man on the moon (so to speak).

If you want to get a man on the moon (or even launch a business idea) here are my 8 tips to working better together (and having fun while doing it):

1. Meet properly: It starts in the beginning with an exchange of names and contact information. Make sure you can pronounce everyone's names. This is the first place that connection has the opportunity to spark. Give it a chance.
2. Create the optimal meeting conditions: Europeans do this well. Make sure that no one is hungry, cold or tired. Make sure food is involved or meet over a meal; food softens a meeting and creates instant community.
3. Find common ground: We all have something in common if we strive to find it. It's much easier to address issues and connect with others when we know we have something in common. Sports, weather and sometimes music can cut across boundaries of race and wealth.
4. Listen more than you talk: Don't finish peoples sentences. Don't talk louder or faster, it doesn't make your idea better. When everyone has the opportunity to speak then we all have the opportunity to connect.
5. Keep ego's in check (or leave them at the door): it's easier to discuss ideas when they are labeled and written down. When you label an idea, make it descriptive of the idea, not the originator: "the ferris wheel scenario", not "Bob's idea". This keeps the energy around the idea, not a competition on who has the most ideas.
6. Give praise freely: Finding something nice to say, even if it's a stretch, can create a feeling of inclusiveness and community. Even the quietest person in the group wants to be noticed for the work they do and what they bring to the team. Keep the energy on what's going right, and it will happen more often.
7. Phrase alternatives as questions: This was a favorite lesson learned. When you do this it helps people stay focused on the work, not on defending their idea or choice. So instead of saying, "I think we should do A, not B, because…" try "What if we did A, instead of B?" This gives the group a chance to discuss the idea and the merit of it, and not to attach it to one individual, who may feel the need to defend it.
8. Learn to Check-out properly: this is last, but by no mean least. When you have a lot weighting your mind or have something else you need to take care of - check-out. You can't add anything of value when you aren't present. Take care of your health, your need for a potty break, food, a sweater, whatever, so when you are engaged during your group work you are fully present and can add value. Being 100% present adds a lot to the group. If you are only 80% there you are only acting as a drain on the whole. Check-out, take care of what you need to take care of and then re-engage.

If only we'd learned this in kindergarten! Can you imagine how much smoother things in college would have been?

I guarantee, if you follow these eight tips when working in a group it will be more productive, more fun and all the more valuable.

Here's to more collaboration!

-Sylvia