Category Archives: Cooperation

Collaboration

Collaboration can become "coliberation" when done right. When, exactly, are "two heads better than one"?  When the overall goal and task at hand deserve this form of closely aligned partnering.  Of course, not every type of work, every goal or every task deserves it, and when collaboration is warranted, success depends on the willingness and skill-sets of collaboration partners.  Key is to Continue Reading ...

New Rules for Communication @ Work

By Daniel Robin This article describes a set of new rules for effective workplace communication in an ever-changing economy. It assumes that you are part of a high-performing organization that values innovation, participation (collaborative vs. command-and-control styles of leadership), mutual accountability and, to some extent, sustainability. Doesn’t sound like your workplace? Perhaps that’s Continue Reading ...

Sailing the Seven C’s of Collaborative Business Relationships

By Daniel Robin To some folks, the phrase "business relationships" is effectively an oxymoron. The more pressure to perform, the more likely there’ll be a bump in the road to collaboration that sends things flying out of control. Hopefully the "bump" isn’t the tip of an iceberg, but just a bit of rough water that will soon pass. Collaboration at work isn’t required, it’s just a lot more Continue Reading ...

Workplace Power Dynamics: Part 3

Hidden Sources of Power at Work By Daniel Robin Many of us hold archaic assumptions about power … and there are precious few new archetypes or role models. To me, the greatest power comes from collaboration … from skillfully going inside our differences and working cooperatively toward building something better than we had at the start. The key here will be to use those forms of power that Continue Reading ...

Seven Steps to Handling Interpersonal Differences

Keys to Negotiating with Power and Grace By Daniel Robin Make no mistake: resolving differences through negotiation is not a logical, linear process. However, this model can serve as a framework for staying on track and learning how and where things go wrong. These seven steps progress from how you might want to begin an effort to resolve differences to how you'd want to complete that effort. Continue Reading ...

Helping the Emergence of Co-operative Work

By Daniel Robin Whether you're a group manager or executive, member of a dedicated work team, or an entrepreneur out on your own, you've probably noticed an increased reliance on collaboration and co-operation to get things done. The days of the lone wolf or the aggressive, cut-throat bully are over. Effective managers have realized that treating people as mere factors of production isn't very Continue Reading ...

Recognition and Accountability in the New Workplace

By Daniel Robin "Don’t we have to send out surveys to test the waters before determining an advertising budget?" the new boss asks. "Nah, the Web isn’t like that. And since when are you an expert in marketing?" the marketing manager asked her boss. "That’s why you’re here, alright. To keep me in line. And if my business degree means anything, it’ll come in handy to help you measure the Continue Reading ...