Collaboration

When group work is most successful, team members plan how to complete the projects that each person contributes what he/she does best. Collaboration means working together towards a goal in a way that allows everyone involved to contribute her or his strength. When people collaborate, teamwork works better and problems are solved sooner. New and exciting possibilities can emerge when people exchange ideas. This is what leads to innovation. Everyone benefits when people collaborate.There are many forms that collaboration can take at school, at work,and beyond.A few examples include:


 * sport teams
 * small group projects
 * class projects
 * classroom activities
 * events (e.g.,planning your prom, graduation, party, wedding, etc)

The problem is that it is hard to learn to collaborate! Collaborating with others takes ppractice. Here are some tips for effective collaboration with others:
 * Get to know the strengths of others in your group. Make sure that everyone contributeshis or her strength to the groups effort.
 * Focus on communicating well with one another. Without good comunication and understanding, collaboration can't happen.
 * Acknowledge one another's contributions to the group.provide positive feedback to one another when it's earned.
 * Take responsibility for your role in the team. Also, remember to let other's take responsibility for their roles too. No one person should be doing all the work. All members should contribute to the best of teir abilities.
 * Work through conflict in a constructive way. Conflict can actually be a good thing! The trick is to keep an open mind.
 * Do not get personal when there is disagreement. Sometimes, conflict leads to the better, more creative solutions since members of a group need to think of alternative solutions or ways of approaching the task at hand.