Carole Levine October 31, 2024
Early in my career, when I moved from teaching to community organizing, I found myself doing a great deal of training. I worked for four national nonprofit organizations each with a mission of bringing people together to build networks of support for families and children. Often the training I presented would focus on collaboration. Collaborating was an essential part of each organization’s mission, so it made sense to help your network understand how to accomplish this.
I had many ways to work with groups to build both their understanding and skills around this topic. There were some key points that, over time, became clear to me regarding the issue of collaboration. Some of them are:
- There is not one universally accepted definition of collaboration.
- Most people think they know and understand what collaboration is. They don’t.
- Different groups see the value of collaborating differently.
- Listening, a key component of good collaboration, is not a skill that is universally brought to the table.
- Assumptions often get in the way of collaboration.
- In real collaborations, people give things up.
That final bullet point was and is my personal mantra. As we struggle today with the ever-growing divides in our communities, states and nation, my thoughts keep returning to the issues around collaboration and especially to the last bullet point on my list. Today, I find myself thinking about what I learned in doing this work as I watch and participate in the 2024 Election. I believe that real collaboration has never been more important or seemingly more difficult. Our nation is building walls to separate people with different beliefs and politics. To me, the concepts of compromise, shared values and working together are distant dreams. I fear for what may follow November 5th, no matter the outcome. Having a government that works for the betterment of all may not be possible.
But as I reflect on my training days, I see small cracks in the walls being built today. Perhaps, with understanding, collaboration is possible. What follows is my thinking and a way to explain the stages of collaboration. I call it the Four C’s of Collaboration. They are:
- Consensus
- Cooperation
- Coordination
- Collaboration
Consensus is needed before any real progress can be made in building toward being able to work with others. The Oxford Dictionary defines Consensus as: majority of opinion – an opinion that all members of a group agree with (about/on something). I lean more toward a majority opinion for this rather than seeking total agreement from everyone. That kind of agreement is difficult and compromise to get to consensus is often the best path. This then becomes a good starting place for moving forward. Even with some dissenters, there is usually a way to reach consensus, perhaps with a few “agreeing to disagree” but also agreeing not to stand in the way. Once one has consensus, it is possible to move to Cooperation.
The Oxford Dictionary defines Cooperation as the fact of doing something together or of working together towards a shared aim. Sometimes it involves doing as you are asked and not always being the decision-maker or in total control. The old adage about “Too many chiefs and not enough Indians” demonstrates the need for cooperation. Setting goals that can be agreed upon and then accepting leadership to move forward from those most capable of doing this is a means of demonstrating cooperation. Sometimes cooperation means taking time to figure out ground rules as well as who has the right skills. time and resources to achieve shared goals. No matter how this is done, it is a critical step.
Coordination is defined as the act of making parts of something, groups of people, etc. work together in an efficient and organized way. This is not just agreeing to goals or ideals, but actually doing the work to achieve them. This is not simple or easy. There are skills involved in ensuring that all participating parties feel engaged and heard as the work proceeds. Good coordination requires leadership that is inclusive and transparent. Commitment to listening to those involved and re-thinking or re-organizing based on what is heard and changing dynamics is essential to real coordination. This may be the most difficult of the 4 C’s.
Collaboration is often defined as the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something. This is a technique much more than a state of being. When we collaborate, we are utilizing all of the “c’s” in order to make progress. Good collaborators set the bar high and are prepared to compromise (yet another “c” word) to reach shared goals.
I would now add two other “c” word/phrase to my Collaboration list. The terms “Common Sense” and “Common Ground” seem like the right addition for the times we are living in. Both of these are often missing in what is put forth on both sides of the isle. Without common sense, we cannot reach common ground. And finding common ground is essential today but seemingly out of reach. As we look to the makeup of our government in January 2024, and to some of the key issues, I fear that real collaboration is not on the table.
I hope I am wrong, but I know that I, too, will struggle to find common ground on some issues. I have worked on the issue of reproductive choice and justice my entire adult life. I am an ardent advocate for this issue and the thought of compromise on a women’s right to choose does not sit well with me. But when I move beyond compromise, to common ground, I am more hopeful of finding some areas where there could be agreement between the pro- and anti-choice constituencies. Assuming that all of us care about the health and wellbeing of women and children and that could be the starting place. If we can we agree that keeping women healthy and able to bear children is a common belief, it could be a beginning. On this issue, there may be areas where we “agree to disagree” but hopefully there are some areas for collaboration. Stranger things have happened!
I reflect back to my key points, learned over the years and point to the two that resonate the most in today’s political climate. Listening is a skill that is not always present. We need to listen to everyone without bias and prejudice. And my best learning around this is still: In real collaborations, people give things up. Are we ready to do this?
