A Harvard career expert reported that when young people come to him for career advice, he always says, “Don't just focus on your own accomplishments. Be a collaborator”.
Thinking about it, comes the curiosity to know what is the 'ability desirable’ that few people have. But below we will find out what skill this is.
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The advantages of collaboration skills
The finance specialist Harvard reports that, with his studies, he discovered that people who knew how to collaborate between teams had a great competitive advantage over those who did not.
When it comes to hiring, smart employees are highly desirable candidates for companies. This is because they deliver higher quality results, in addition to being promoted faster, they are more noticed by senior management and have more satisfied customers.
But these collaboration skills are surprisingly rare, especially among men. A 2021 McKinsey study found that female leaders compared to male leaders at the same level and title were about twice as likely to spend substantial time on collaborative efforts outside of their work formal.
How to be an exceptional collaborator?
- Be an inclusive leader
Be that person who takes action to bring diverse people together. The mindset to have is, ‘This person thinks differently than I do. She knows something I don't, and I can learn a lot from her.
These people should not only have different knowledge domains, but also represent diverse professional backgrounds, ages and life experiences.
- Show appreciation and recognition
A study by Harvard Business School professor Boris Groysberg found that workers, particularly men, often underestimate the value of their network of professional contacts.
During job interviews, by not mentioning how much support they received from their peers, they believed themselves to be more independent and “portable” than they actually were.
However, this “me first” thinking is often an obstacle and a problem for hiring managers. Even Claire Hughes Johnson, a former vice president at Google for 10 years, says she prioritizes self-awareness and collaboration skills when evaluating a candidate.
- Ask for help
If you're responsible for submitting a sales report every week and you always do it alone, you can give the impression that you only value your own opinion.
By reaching out to experts from different departments for more opinions, you make your arguments more convincing to your boss. And, of course, don't forget to mention the names of those who contributed.
