Some people confuse cooperation with dictatorship—I tell you what to do and you do it, hence you are cooperating with me. Though it may work, and be the definition for some, this is not the kind of cooperation that breeds creativity or innovation. Breaking the word apart, you literally get “co” and “operate,” which means—you guessed it—working together. When the right hand talks to the left, you are not only eliminating work overlap, but promoting organization, communication and building team synergy.
A vendor once told me, “In order to achieve excellence, you must demand excellence.” For me, “demanding” is not the act of ordering people around to get a project done the way you want, but rather demand that the project meet its necessary standards—to not settle for less. To achieve that, you need to make sure everyone on your team gets their hands dirty—including, maybe even especially, your own.
Here are some helpful tips to promote cooperation in your workplace:
- Identify the goal. Have a clear visualization of what you and your team are working toward. This will keep everyone on the same page from the start.
- Define roles. Know who is doing what, and be sure that each person is being assigned tasks that best suit their own personal strengths.
- Establish deadlines AND STICK TO THEM. There have been studies that show employers value people who stick to their deadlines more than overachievers. Utilize a group calendar and make sure everyone knows when to expect what.
- Communicate often. Send a weekly or even daily summary of what you’ve accomplished that day, sans tying your shoes and brushing your teeth.
Simply put, embrace the team spirit and don’t try to do it all. Listen to each other, know your role and fulfill it to your best ability. Anything less is simply an excuse, and as Benjamin Franklin said, “He that is good for making excuses, is seldom good for anything else.”