Future Skills

CHAPTER 9COLLABORATION AND WORKING IN TEAMS

The fourth industrial revolution is going to present many challenges for organizations, not least keeping up with the breakneck pace of change. So it makes sense that businesses will want people on their teams who can work well with others to overcome challenges and drive the company forward. This is why collaboration is another of my top future skills. It's one of those skills that seems obvious for workplace success, and yet so many of us have encountered teams and individuals that just don't play well with others. In this chapter, we'll explore what makes a good collaborator, what prevents people from collaborating with others, and what collaboration may look like in the workplaces of the future, where remote, distributed teams will become the norm.

What Is Collaboration?

Collaboration means working with others to make collective decisions and achieve a common goal.

Are collaboration and teamwork the same thing?

Not exactly, although they both involve working together. A team is made up of individuals—with each individual being responsible for their own defined role and tasks, which contribute to the team's overall objectives. Typically, the team will have a leader who oversees each individual's work and drives the team forward. Think of a soccer team, headed up by a coach, with each player fulfilling roles such as goalkeeper, defender, center forward, and so on. If one player is sent off the pitch, or if the coach isn't there ...