In the ever-changing landscape of new technologies, work environments, and the competencies needed to successfully navigate it, collaboration has become an indispensable component.
For the young Christ-follower looking to grow their influence, collaboration skills are foundational. The Christian faith is rooted in community, and the ability to work well together reflects the type of unity that Christ desires.
Strong skills in collaboration will improve one’s ability to influence, it will also contribute to stronger results and a more vibrant work environment.
Here are three ways strong collaboration skills will help grow your influence:
More Diverse Perspectives
One of the primary reasons collaboration is vital for young leaders is the diverse array of perspectives it brings to the table. As we begin our careers, we tend to have much more limited perspectives.
It’s not something to be embarrassed about; it’s simply a result of limited life experiences. Collaboration gets our minds out of what we see as “normal.” It opens up new ways of thinking through ideas with more context and perspectives.
Each team member has unique gifts, talents, and insights that, when shared, can lead to potentially innovative solutions. Collaboration fosters an environment where varied perspectives can blend, resulting in a richer, more nuanced understanding of how to address challenges. You can model this by reaching out and connecting to others in your workplace for ideas and input.
Enhanced Assuredness and Buy-In
Collaboration also enhances confidence in decisions and a more significant buy-in from other team members. By showing a collaborative approach, you are modeling how team members can contribute, provide constructive feedback, and encourage others.
The mutual benefits team members witness will help ensure that decisions are made with collective wisdom. This will foster a culture of trust and transparency.
Proverbs 27:17 shares, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This sharpening effect is crucial for both personal and spiritual growth and is a key outcome of good collaboration skills.
Maximizing Resources
One more significant benefit of collaboration is the role it plays in maximizing the abilities of the overall team. Financial and time constraints can be a challenge.
Collaboration among team members ultimately may lead to the sharing of resources. This might be hand’s on help, some extra budget help, or the addition of someone else’s brain power. By working together, teams can maximize their potential impact and offer great ideas and solutions in ways (and potentially in timeframes) that would be impossible for one to do alone.
No matter what the environment of the workplace looks like, the role collaboration can play cannot be overstated.
By embracing enough humility to reach out to others we all can more effectively manage our work, improve our relationships with team members, and grow our influence.