Objectives for this presentation: Recognize when collaboration is needed; review the structure and flow of collaboration; identify skills to use when the collaborative process breaks

down The Collaborative Model – A Foundation for Success in the 21st century

col·lab·o·rate - a process by which two or more people work together cooperatively toward a common goal.

It is a learning process that is creative by nature through which knowledge, experience, or ideas are shared and consensus is built.

Why Collaborate?

•The Workplace is evolving•Global Competition•Shifts in Demographics•Transient Skill Sets•Shrinking occupational life cycles

Why Collaborate?•The Workforce is lagging•Gaps in Job Readiness•Generational /Cultural Gaps•Knowledge-to-Application Gaps•Professionalism / Ethics Gaps•Collaborative “Team Skills Gaps

Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution Skills are increasingly critical in the Workplace

In a survey of over 400 employers across the United States, the most important skills cited by employers are:

Professionalism / Work Ethic

Oral and Written Communication

Teamwork / Collaboration

Critical Thinking / Problem Solving

Information Technology Applicationsource: Southern Regional Education Board

Meanwhile . . . . . . .The Social Media Revolution, also known as Web 2.0, is changing the way we interact Consider these facts:•One in Eight couples married in the U. S. met via social media•96% of the Millenial Generation have joined one or more social networks•Facebook exceeds Google in weekly internet traffic in the United States•Social Media has replaced Pornography as the #1 activity on the WorldWideWeb•Facebook added over 200 million users in less than a year (TV took 13 years to reach 50 million users)•Downloads of iPod applications (“apps”) exceeded 1 billion in less than 9 months•If Facebook were a country, it would be the 3rd largest in the world, behind China and India•80% of all businesses use social media for recruiting new employees•Generations Y and Z (Gen@ or Millenials, born after 1980) consider email passe.•Some Universities have stopped distributing e-mail accounts in favor of iPads, eReaders, and Tablets•Every minute, more than 24 hours of video is uploaded on YouTube

Social Media isn’t a fad, it is a fundamental shift in the way we communicate source: http://www.socialnomics.com

What does this mean for Educators?

Is The Culture moving away from the traditional model of instructional delivery?

A US Department of Education study revealed that online learners outperformed students receiving traditional (F2F) instruction.

What does this mean to Educators?

What does this mean for Educators? Changes to Curriculum and Instructional Delivery including: •Increased Emphasis on Relationships, Partnering, and Soft Skills•Problems-Based Learning •Collaborative Approaches•Small Learning Communities

What does this mean for Educators? Changes in Organizational Structure and Focus including: •Instructors As Mentors •Community Partnerships

•Parent/Student/Teacher Partnerships

•Advisory Groups

•Career Clusters / Career Majors

From Classroom. . . To Strategy Room . . .To Board Room . . .

Collaboration is theKey to achieving andmaintaining viability in a competitive Global Marketplace

Collaboration – How do we get there?

The Collaborative Model

Inclusion Make sure the right “Players” are involved

A Team’s COMPOSITION is CRITICAL to its FUNCTIONALITY

Make sure a range of EXPERTISE and PERSPECTIVES are REPRESENTED

AcknowledgementRecognize the Potential within each

“Partner”

• Experience / Expertise•Access – Each partner represents a Network

•Perspective•Understanding through Self-Awareness

Contribution / InteractivityNon-Negotiable Ground Rules

•Structure is Critical•Expectations – Clear, Reasonable, Shared•Healthy Communication is Vital•Identify and Address Problems Quickly

ADD VALUEWhat is the

GOAL and HOW do we GET

THERE?

•FOCUS – Keeps the Main Thing the Main Thing•CLARITY – Provides the Standard by which work is

measured•TRANSPARENCY – Keeps the work evenly distributed•MUTUAL RESPECT – Motivates with the right Attitude

ADOPT and ADAPT your efforts to the Enterprise

•Consensus is Buy-In•Test the Theories•Practice Accountability•Exercise Cautious Optimism

DISTRIBUTE – Make a DifferencePromote the Product, not the ProducerShare the Glory / Share the PainOwn the ResultsMove on

Making the Model WORK

Addressing PROBLEMS in the Process

Recognizing Communication Problems

Withdrawal

Invalidation

Negativism

Escalation

Problems with Interaction

Character Assassination

Catastrophic Interpretations

Cross-Complaining

Kitchen –Sinking

Effectively Dealing with Problems

Making Connections to Build Stronger Relationships

•Take time to KNOW the individuals, but keep the FOCUS on the GOAL

•AVOID Blamestorming & other forms of Negativity

•Small Connections build large Networks

•Laugh at yourself OFTEN

Your BEST Collaborative tool: Effective Listening

Keys to Effective Listening•Look directly at the person who is speaking

•DO NOT INTERRUPT

•WAIT for the floor

•Repeat what you heard BEFORE commenting

Discussing problems in a SAFE way

Using “When. . .Then. . .“or “X Y Z” statementsto define the Problem

•Puts the Action and Context together

•Makes the Cause-Effect connection

•Helps everyone “Own their own” actions & emotions

•Gets the problem out in the open

Moving Forward, then Back

Strategies for Effective Collaboration

•Involve the RIGHT people from the beginning and USE their ideas

•Make sure everyone knows what is EXPECTED from them

•Celebrate PROGRESS at each step along the way

•Address PROBLEMS quickly – as soon as they become apparent

•Keep the MAIN THING the MAIN THING – talk about “WHY”

•Don’t be afraid to make ADJUSTMENTS as they are needed

The Collaborative Model – A Foundation for Success in the 21st century