Building a collaborative project framework involves thinking about the connections between how we talk, what we talk about, and what happens afterwards. What kind of infrastructure supports making those connections? Two things I think are essential to structuring collaborative projects are: People need the places and opportunities to have the important conversations Those conversations need […]
An apology can make it safe to collaborate
March 28, 2009 by · 2 Comments
The recent newswire story proclaimed “Sorry no longer the hardest word in Ontario”. Ontario passed legislation this month that will allow people to say sorry without fear of having it turned against them in court. Under the new rules, apologies can’t be used as an admission of fault or liability and won’t affect someone’s insurance […]
Question Bank: A place to invest your organization's important questions
March 16, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
It’s been said there is more learning in the question itself than the answer. If your organization emphasizes learning; then good questions represent an investment in learning. To better manage that investment, why not maintain a question bank. Last week I participated in a meeting with some mediator colleagues involved in the The Court Mediation […]
The circle as a process
March 9, 2009 by · 2 Comments
I’m always impressed by the process and outcomes when we gather in a circle. As collaborators, leveraging the power of the circle seems something we can do more of. Our ancestors gathered around a fire in a circle. Families gather around the kitchen table in a circle. As a society we seem slow in learning […]
The underlying interests that motivate your business users
March 3, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
If I could help you get good at what you really want to do, how would that you make you feel? Maybe you would want to see more of me? How can you help the people you depend on, your clients, partners, collaborators; get really good at what they want to do, and become passionate […]
Bids for Connection: Learing from a relationship expert
February 23, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
What can we learn from relationship experts and apply to our collaborative efforts? Creating a successful collaborative requires us to be competent at building relationships and trust. Some of the underlying principles about human relationships, and building trust, are best understood by experts in the field of human relations. One of those experts is John […]
The power of a story told well
February 16, 2009 by · 2 Comments
I love a well-told story. And when the story itself has clout, even better. A good story, supported by creative storytelling, can move us from a place of compliance to a place of commitment. By-and-large, storytelling is a missed opportunity for organizations. Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly […]
Questions are the engine that drive collaborative conversations
February 9, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
The collaborative facilitator knows that questions make things happen. Questions are the engine that drives healthy and productive group conversation. A few years ago, I took a workshop, on facilitation and asking questions, from Dorothy Strachan in Ottawa, Ontario. She has been a facilitator for a long time, and is an expert in asking questions […]
Moving from the "pain of a new idea" to collaboration and innovation
February 9, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Collaboration involves people or organizations working together toward an intersection of common goals. Innovation is about a new way of doing something; about making changes in your thinking, processes, products, and/or organization. We know collaborative thought and action can lead to new ideas and innovation. Yet, still we are reluctant to use a collaborative approach […]
