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Creating Collaboration
Foster genuine collaboration and cooperation among individuals and workgroups.

In many organizations, people are being asked to collaborate rather than compete. Mergers need to happen quickly, people have to work effectively with other functions instead of only focusing within, and the demand for effective teamwork is great.

Creating Collaboration is designed for organizations that are building more collaborative environments. It provides you with a process for creating commitment, quality decisions, and increased productivity by working through and with others.

What makes collaboration successful is:

• Having a systematic approach to collaborative situations

• Understanding what the individual goals are - uncovering everyone's agenda

• Building and constantly revisiting a group goal which everyone can and will buy into

• Discovering what's important to everyone - what are people going to gain and lose by being involved

It is also critical to understand the sources of conflict when collaborating. Different values often lead to differences of opinion. Some people think the task is critical, others want power, and others think people are the most important element. With effective collaboration you turn these differences into strengths and resources.

Through Creating Collaboration you understand the link between your values and how you collaborate with others. You and five people you choose complete a prework questionnaire focused on your values. At the workshop you analyze the results to further understand how your values can both support and get in the way of collaboration.

You have the opportunity to practice in a variety of exercises, including a personal situation requiring collaboration. You will leave the workshop with a clear understanding of collaboration as: When two or more people or groups, who share common interests but are in conflict, meet to create an outcome that serves both individual and group needs.

The Objectives

• Clarify your personal values and gain insight into how these values impact your collaboration skills.

• Learn to use a comprehensive planning guide to assess and prepare for collaborative situations.

• Accept and deal with conflict more effectively.

• Objectively look at the way you work with people.

• Better understand sources of conflict and how to work through them.

• Develop an increased awareness and understanding of how respect, accountability, values, and beliefs of others affect collaboration.

Who Should Attend

Creating Collaboration is for intact groups who want to take their team a step further, groups who are merging, managers who want to create a more collaborative environment, and individuals who need collaboration skills

View a sample workshop agenda for Creating Collaboration.

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