Collaboration at Your School
Which of the collaborative principles do you believe are being used effectively at your organization? How so?
I work for an organization that works as a team for the same common goal. We want our students not only to the best education but to have a deeper relationship with God. This is seen in every department and employee through the campus. The leadership holds everyone accountable and when we succeed everyone is recognized.
@jean
I agree communication is key.
Working so closely with our students and knowing everyone on a personal level. It works well to keep everyone connected.
Great, Mitra! It sounds like you've built a collaborative team and have managed to identify and build upon the collection of talents. Great job!
Elizabeth Wheeler
When I first began as a program director, I welcomed and invited the input of the faculty in order to make our program better. That small gesture led to all of them sharing their ideas, collaborating in updating forms and supporting each other. Now, the moral has increased and they fully cooperate with each other.
That is a very honest assessment Carol. Our organization really focused on collaboration between departments and between the senior leadership to all areas. The result- buy-in across the entire company. Employees began to build a since of value thus leading to greater retention of our talent.
Juan Wilkerson
Sharing accountability and responsibility is a collaborative principle that works well in my organization. Additionally, the CEO/President and Vice-President recognizes the talents of all leaders and employees and allows all to contribute towards initiatives.
Juan Wilkerson
Mike, I want to make sure I understand your question, can you explain further what you mean?
Elizabeth Wheeler
Regular successful meetings you mean. I have been in many that get little done and waste a lot of time. But, then I work in government.
Does this have to be our school? I work for a local county government and we use the concepts of ITIL and our director requires all of us to be ITIL certified.
Angela, It's sounds like a really collaborative work environment. However, if no one is responsible, who makes sure the new ideas are implemented?
Dr. Jean Norris
We are taking ideas for recruitment from the entire staff & faculty & looking for effective ways to implement these ideas. No one person is solely responsible for new ideas.
Carol, Collaboration is so important! What do you suggest to make all the information needed more accessible?
Dr. Jean Norris
The expectation of collaboration is there, but we all don't have access to all the info we need - so we need to do better at that.
Wilmer, That sounds like a great place to work! I'm curious, is each team a different department at your college or just another admissions team? If it's all admissions, how do you think your collaboration method would work between departments?
Dr. Jean Norris
We use most of the principles discussed at our college. We are given time to respond to every concern and before the general meeting of everyone we meet with our individual teams. We have a meeting every other week and put everything on the table to discuss. Each team is allowed to share concerns or victories and then each team helps to brainstorm solutions collectively as a group. Those are written down by the head of the team and are then acted on. If necessary we all pitch in to make our solution happen. It is refreshing to know that your opinion and thoughts count. It's okay if your idea is not used because you know you are respected and your idea may cause another solution once voiced. We have a very good trust system and teamwork set up and we all have a common goal.
Heather, The blame game is never fun. It's great that all the departments work together! I'm curious, does this method of collaboration exist throughout your institution?
Dr. Jean Norris
We have weekly meetings as a group where we discuss what is happening at the campus and things that need to be looked at. We all take responsibility for what we decide, which is a great thing. I have worked for places before where this did not happen and one department or another was blamed for any failure.
Rachel,
That sounds like a great method! Do you find this method is effective/helpful? How?
Dr. Jean Norris
