Effective Collaboration

There are ways that you can collaborate wisely and with intentionality.

Below are some tips that can help you support your team in working well together.

Your First Few Team Meetings

In your first few meetings with your team, be sure to:

Establish expectations:
- Create and define group guidelines (how you want to work together)
- Set goals and objectives
- Define timelines
Be proactive:
- Try to identify any risks to your goals or timelines early (for example, do you have upcoming vacation plans?)
- Set up effective communication methods, including how frequently you should be checking in
Get to know and understand your teammates' diverse skills and interests
Celebrate your "wins" and successes

What If Someone on Your Team Isn't Communicating Effectively?

If you are working with a teammate who is not communicating or collaborating effectively:

Reaffirm the expectations your group created
Check in: is there something that is hindering communication?
Listen first and observe
Approach your teammate directly

Only after you have done your due diligence to manage the situation internally should you involve an outside party, like a supervisor or course instructor. In the case of your SI Challenge, if a member of your group is not contributing or communicating effectively, you can report this on your Accountability Report. Your Accountability Report will be submitted along with every assignment and should detail what has happened with the group member and what your team has done to try to resolve the matter. An ASIP staff member will follow up with the individual and, likely, the other members of your group to help you to navigate the situation.

Navigating Intercultural Teams

Image of many people's hands around overlapping colourful speech bubbles

For navigating your intercultural teams, here are some important considerations:

Self-reflect (and reflect as a team) consistently. For example, after getting feedback on an assignment, think and speak about your experience with it.
Practice intercultural empathy. You may think differently from others, but this does not mean that you are, or anyone else is, wrong or right. Put yourself in their shoes.
Remember: culture is both complex and deeply rooted.
Take advantage of the benefits of diversity.
Stay curious!

In PD4, we will speak more about teamwork and communication and provide some practical tools to enhance collaboration in the workplace. In the meantime, be sure to apply as many of these practices as are meaningful to you and your team.

Industry Insight

"It takes time to learn and adapt to other personalities, which is vital not just for completing tasks, but also for building a reputation with your colleagues and others who work adjacent to them."

Richard N., Cloud Technologies Professional
Honours Bachelor of Science, Computer Science (Specialist), University of Toronto

Reflection

Beyond the tips suggested above, how else can you communicate effectively with your team?