5 Tips to Collaborate Successfully

If you plan to be successful in your career you will need to effectively collaborate with others. Rarely are projects undertaken by one individual.

Some collaborations are sustainable and last for the long-term (think of the musical collaboration between the members of U2), while others start strong and burst into flames (think of the brothers in Oasis).

In order to make your collaboration a success pick partners with the following qualities (and be sure to exemplify the traits yourself): 

Open to new ideas. Close-minded individuals who already have all the answers seldom make good collaborators and likely never scored highly on “plays well with others” ratings on their report card. Curiosity for new ideas and new ways of thinking is imperative, along with the humility to recognize that you don’t have all the answers and can learn from others.

Good listener. Someone who is open to new ideas will strive to effectively listen to others and gain a new perspective and view on a situation. Practice active listening in order to fully understand the other person and the solution they propose.

Disagree effectively. One can disagree without being disagreeable. Successful collaborations need the freedom to differ without resorting to rude behavior or shouting. It is often through disagreement that real breakthroughs and solutions can be developed. Don’t be afraid of conflict but manage it constructively.

Reliable. Can you rely on the individuals you are collaborating with? Will they fulfill their responsibilities? Are they hard-working or will they leave work undone? These are questions you need answers to when it comes to selecting those you collaborate with.

Honesty and Respect. These are the basic traits you want in a collaborative partner and they should underlie who you are and how you interact with others. By developing honest and respectful collaborations you make it more likely your team will find effective solutions to the problems you encounter and create a successful and impactful project, product, or event.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 8 Morning Secrets of Highly Successful People

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 8 Morning Secrets of Highly Successful People: "Those who are successful don’t waste time or opportunity. Just about every minute of their day is planned and has purpose. Some devote time in the morning to visualize the rest of the day."

• 3 Things I Wish I'd Done When Layoffs Started at My Company: "I responded by firing off a few applications for positions that looked OK, did a few interviews that went OK and before long, settled back into the same old routine of doing my job."

• 6 Habits That Turn Dreams Into Reality: "One of the benefits of a structured approach to goal and vision setting is that individuals can clearly see how each action and effort propels them toward their highest goal."

• Employers Need to Recognize That Our Wellness Starts at Work: "While we can argue about the best ways to maximize productivity, it’s hard to dispute that the physical, mental, and (yes) emotional conditions of employees are very much the business of the company, given that they greatly impact performance, morale, and absenteeism."
• How to Talk Politics at Work Without Being a Jerk: "If you don't think your co-worker's political beliefs are deserving of your respect, take that as a sign that you shouldn't be engaging in the conversation at work at all."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to (Positively) Think Your Way to Success

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• How to (Positively) Think Your Way to Success: "They’re always there and they always have an effect on you. But thoughts can be appraised in a very simple way: Do they strengthen you or weaken you?"
• 6 Ways to Stay Productive After 3:00 PM: "Go for a walk, either outside or just around your office. You’ll be in a better mood when you return to the task at hand, and you'll be better equipped to actually tackle it."
• 9 Questions to Ask Yourself in Order to Move Past Challenges With Grace: "Deciding what I’m committed to and how I plan to make that commitment happen is my top focus as I enter a challenging situation."
• How to Succeed at Work When Your Boss Doesn't Respect You: "Work closely with a mentor. In my interviews, I have also found that a close relationship with a mentor is closely correlated with thriving."
• 5 Lessons from Angelina Jolie on How to Make a Career Change: "Follow her playbook and be confident in your potential to reinvent your career. Yes, it's possible! Here's how."