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Make a simple start: encourage joint responsibility. ‘Collaboration’ might be the buzz word of the moment but ‘command and control’ is still around in management behaviour. It sort of goes with the territory. If you are in charge, you feel you have to lead from the front. It’s a hard model to break.

Collaboration happens when one party listens to another: Unconditionally – without dismissing or having opinions about what’s being said. Without interrupting. As a result of your asking questions (because you’re curious) about what you’ve just heard. With respect. Accepting as ‘true’ what the speaker is saying from their perspective.Could it really be that simple..?

Most important work in organisations does not involve an individual creating something from nothing. Most often it involves individuals and groups working together. So why is it so very unusual to see individuals and groups working really harmoniously together? And why do some groups stop collaborating with other groups, preferring to spend most of their energies finger-pointing the other group? Same question with individuals?

This question is part of the mystery of the nature of humankind. What are we in essence? And in influencing collaboration in people and groups are we taking people back towards, or away from, their natural behavioural roots?