Keys to Success: Executive Team Collaboration
By Dyan E. Connolly, D. Hilton Associates
May 5, 2005
Know the Process
There are three main processes that occur in collaborative meetings: brainstorming ideas, making decisions, and presenting information. Often in meetings these processes get mixed up and some people are generating ideas while others are making decisions, and still while others are focused on presenting information. At the onset of any meeting, it must be clear what process is to be used. Be sure all parties are on the same page. This is the most important action to ensure a collaborative team environment that delivers results.
Equal Participation
It is important to hear all ideas during discussions. Ensure complete participation so the team can benefit from all viewpoints and areas of expertise. The best thinking will come when everyone knows they have the opportunity to have their ideas heard in a respectful manner. This is not about being “fair” but leveraging the team’s talent to get the best end result.
Communication
Make a concerted effort to communicate changes that effect to the team. No one likes surprises or feeling like things are happening behind their back. Communication that is open and timely lowers resistance and provides team members the opportunity to final decision-making. Collaboration is about inclusion, and that takes effective communication.
Begin with Purpose
It is important to spend time discussing the objectives and purpose of the work efforts. Once a clear understanding is achieved, it is up to each team member to ensure they are in alignment with the purpose/mission.
Establish Team Practices/Rules
Even teams that have been working together for a long time need to have practices and rules established regarding how they will work together, what is expected from one another, and how the work will be done. Keep a record of the work as it is completed and display it where everyone can see the results and progress made. Establish processes for brainstorming ideas, resolving conflicts, and solving problems. When teams have a clear understanding of the practices and rules, they can focus on what is to be done rather than on how it is to be done.
Evaluate and Celebrate Milestone Progress
Build into your project timeline a review of how the team is working together and what is being accomplished. Look for opportunities to restate the mission/purpose and to call for stronger participation. Identify what went well and what needs to be improved going forward. Recognize and reward yourselves when milestones are achieved to your satisfaction.
Mix It Up
Some people think best when they have time to ponder alone, and yet others prefer the creative energy of a good debate. Some need pictures to capture the concept and others need historical evidence and data. Your group will be diverse in how they best problem-solve and process information. Establish flexibility in your processes to allow time individual thinking as well as group discussions. Encourage team members to be vocal about how they best process information and work to accommodate their various needs.
Team Diversity
When you bring senior management team together to solve a problem or innovate solutions, there is going to be a wide range of knowledge, ideas, motivations, histories, biases and personal styles. True collaboration means that you value the diversity of the team. Creative solutions provided by the collaboration are better than if any one person had worked alone. This is what makes collaboration at the senior level important. Learning the skill of effectively working with others who are different from us is in the best interest of the organization.
Dyan E. Connolly is vice president of HR practice for D. Hilton Associates Inc. Contact him at 800-367-0433 ext. 135 or dyan@dhilton.com.
