August 14, 2023

Calling all people who were around in the ’90s: Do you remember a certain famous lyric, “Stop, collaborate, and listen”? Sure, they may just be snappy words from Vanilla Ice’s most popular song, but I like to think he was talking about an essential part of being a strong leader that people often overlook. Some may see collaboration and think of the not-so-fun group projects of the past. However, it’s integral to building trust, solving problems effectively, and gathering a variety of perspectives. Let’s get some insight on why collaboration is the key to a flourishing program and how you can promote a collaborative culture so all voices are heard, and all ideas can shine.

Strength in Numbers

Imagine a world without collaboration. Do you live in the Golden State and want to pay a visit to the Big Apple? Well, I hope you can spare a month and a half to travel by boat! If you’re pondering the lands your ancestors came from, be prepared for a long and strenuous journey piecing together family trees and birth records. Are you staring up at the night sky wondering about the mysteries of outer space? Well, keep wondering! What a different world it would be without airplanes, an understanding of DNA, and even NASA’s International Space Station. Furthermore, what a lonely world it would be without collaboration! Not only has teamwork led to some of humankind’s finest work, but it’s also simply a good idea to have in your program. Here are some points to ponder:

• Collaboration leads to effective problem-solving. When people share a variety of skills and knowledge, they create practical and creative solutions to longstanding problems. According to research done at the University of Illinois that measured the effectiveness of individual productivity versus group productivity, groups outperformed the individuals with even the highest IQs!
• A collaborative group can think of new ideas every day. Is your program feeling stale? Getting ideas from diverse people, including staff and family members, is sure to spark innovation. A recent study found that teams made up of members from diverse backgrounds tend to perform better by up to 35% compared to individualistic environments.
• A work environment that often uses teamwork leads to happier staff. A study found that in work environments where feedback, openness, and personal opinions were valued, team members were 80% more likely to report higher emotional well-being!

The Secret Sauce

It’s no secret that collaboration is beneficial to your staff, students, and families. And luckily, the “secret sauce” in fostering this type of culture within your program is simpler than you might think! Here are some key ingredients — the A, B, C, & D of collaboration:

• Assemble a diverse team. See the section above if you have any doubts about why this ingredient matters. Use Y4Y’s Program Team Roster.
• Build trust. A good team player is one that gives trust as much as they’d like to receive it. Your staff and students need to feel safe in sharing their thoughts and ideas. A great way to establish trust is by often asking for advice on program activities and asking staff and/or students how they’d like to see a problem in your program get solved.
• Coordinate and communicate. Collaboration and coordination go hand in hand, so be sure to prioritize organization! Chaos is no environment for teamwork to thrive, so make time for frequent debriefs, idea sharing, and mental health check-ins. Remember, collaboration can’t happen without having the space and time to make it happen.
• Don’t just hear but listen. Great collaborators know that both listening and understanding lead to an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. This can look like something as simple as asking clarifying questions, making eye contact, and using open body language like nodding your head.

The collaboration will go a long way in making staff and students feel valued and your overall program feel as fresh as can be! Remember: Almost every “greatest hit” throughout history has been made better with a little teamwork, so show your program what Vanilla Ice really meant by that famous lyric.