I’ve been thinking about collaboration a lot lately (academic context). What makes you a good collaborator? What are things that make collaboration work well? What are things that undo good collaboration? - ThreadSky

melhogan.bsky.social • 19 days ago

I’ve been thinking about collaboration a lot lately (academic context).

What makes you a good collaborator? What are things that make collaboration work well? What are things that undo good collaboration?

Comments

thisisdavekim.com•19 days ago

A lot of it comes down to communication. Even if we're using the same words, are we talking about the same thing? In the innovation context, I like to have my teams think through whether we're talking about the broader opportunity, an idea, or a feature.

thisisdavekim.com•19 days ago

Another aspect of communication is understanding whether we should collectively be in an expansive / divergent mode or whether we should be in a convergent one. It's amazing how often groups of people get this one wrong.

edsrlee.bsky.social•19 days ago

Good point. There isn't enough research on this (at least that I am aware of). My go to is the @ciforum.bsky.social for guidance on effective collaboration.

marievc.bsky.social•19 days ago

Having experimented with different types of group, paradoxically, collaboration that works means being clear about the framework of the collaboration, agreeing on how/when decisions are made, keeping an eye on the ‘weight’ of each person's contributions, and a willingness to cooperate.

nullcurriculum.bsky.social•19 days ago

trust. 100%. outside of work, my coach is my greatest collaborator. we have radical trust. I don't even try and BS. he's kind, compassionate, and realistic but also knows when to push me beyond what I *think* I can do. my fave academics have those qualities too.

juliachan.bsky.social•19 days ago

I think there’s a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ in terms of finding collaborators with whom you gel with. But balancing the demands of work with care for each other as human beings is important. Also, a commitment from everyone to be very organized (which to me is another form of care)!

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

amen to organization as care!

niemkath.bsky.social•19 days ago

A good collaboration might be when you feel at home with your collaborators, when you can discuss critically and say what you think… learning from each other. Collaborative work should be more valued as well as other ways of sharing research.

digitalb0dy.bsky.social•19 days ago

Listening. Taking time to reflect. Making space for ideas to nestle up when they’re ready. Laughter. Food. Empathy & respect for the whole person not just the work bit. Ability to get excited about ideas together, desire to explore the unknown & take risks, & the freedom to disagree

sscottgraham.bsky.social•19 days ago

Misaligned incentives is the biggest collaboration killer in academia. If collaboration is not rewarded, or if outcomes are rewarded differently between collaborators, all the good vibes and individual eusocial skills in the world don't matter.

ccguerilla.bsky.social•19 days ago

Nicely said.

katemadd.bsky.social•19 days ago

I think that collaboration is the future of work in the humanities. And that the monograph is a myth, and we need to be a lot more frank--beyond mere citation--about all work being collaborative work.
Good collaborators are ready to concede this.
Clinging to the myth undoes good collaboration.

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

Agreed. And sometimes the collaboration itself is the point. Not the outputs.

katemadd.bsky.social•19 days ago

TOTALLY. And more of this for future, as *text* proliferates and depreciates in value? (sorry for the market metaphor)

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

I mean, I've already been told in all sorts of ways that my podcast "devalues" me as a scholar...

🤷‍♂️

katemadd.bsky.social•19 days ago

whhaaaa?! ugh.

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

someone told me it was too intimate lol

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

I think that knowing when to lead and when to follow helps a lot.

As a team, there are a lot of ideas— and your own aren’t always the best and most important!

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

Meeting deadlines (or being clear about what you can’t do) is good for collaboration.

melhogan.bsky.social•19 days ago

What else?

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