The idea of collaboration at the workplace has been a practice used for many years.  The perfect example is an NBA basketball team.  Each individual has their own role but also has the ability to work together with others to achieve a higher goal.  Teamwork creates synergy and that allows the group to do more work than the sum of the individuals.   Great collaborators normally have a leader, a guide who helps the individuals use their natural gifts to their greatest efficiency and potential.  Directors, coaches, CEOs, principals, leaders come in all shapes and sizes.

Professional consultants can instruct you on how to evaluate employees’ skills and how to best utilize them.  The “Shark Tank,” “The Profit,” and “Undercover Boss,” and shows like them give normal folks a chance to get some information from real pros and maybe make a deal.  There is an undeniable fact that quality consultants cost big money.  Advertising costs big money, too!  It seems that everything needed to help your business grow costs more money than an average business makes in a month.  So, what can we do?  Small businesses can network, give feedback, and most importantly, collaborate.  But how?

There are many professional organizations that will match you up with other entrepreneurs in your area, but those come with a membership fee and no guarantee that you will meet anyone.  My experience with these types of organizations is mixed.  I was able to meet many people, but the cost was more than I could afford over time.  The first six months were worth it, but after that, not at all!  If you have a lot of extra money, this might be the easiest route to take to find others to work with.  Networking can be done at many kinds of events, even at non-professional organizations.  Consider events that bring many people together; those are perfect to pass out cards and start your search for potential business associates.

Not available? In the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, networking has become a tricky kind of impossible.  I do have a procedure for building working relationships: it’s a step by step building of trust and a knowledge of the abilities of the other collaborator.  My policy is to start with trust and honesty.  I always make the first gesture.  Normally for me, it’s sending a game (I’m a game maker) and offering a business connection.  Over the course of time, I escalate the relationship by creating a situation where both parties can benefit from the partnership. 

An essential part of the plan is building a relationship with the other person based on trust and knowledge. Individuals have no chance of collaborating without knowing each other’s abilities and skills.  I get to know my potential associate’s business and see what their internet presence is like.  Are there reviews or information available about the person or business? I make sure I go into every meeting prepared to do what I offer and understand what the other person can do for me.  I’m always early and prepared as a sign of respect and being an honorable entrepreneur.  I collaborate the way I want to be treated. 

My biggest issue with collaborating with individuals is the “excuse after the fact” problem.  I believe that if you are going to miss a deadline, it is beholden to the person failing to meet it to contact all concerned and let them know that the task will not be completed on time.  Many believe that an adequate excuse makes up for missing the deadline.  This is the practice of selfish individuals and bad businesspeople.  It only needs to happen once for me to terminate all business with them.  Collaboration can’t work if there isn’t respect and honor and being on time is essential and something I will not discuss.

My secret knowledge of collaborating with others comes from playing Dungeon and Dragons for more than 40 years.  Over the years, playing role playing games like D&D has trained me to work with a group, to fulfill a role, and help the group complete difficult tasks.  I learned to look at each member’s skills and abilities and it taught me to work along side others without trying to complete the same job.  I used this skill in many ways in my life.  Unfortunately, I can’t force others to work with me, and I have strict rules against one sided relationships: I just don’t do it.  I have had many gaming groups break up over the years because of the lack of collaboration.  I believe it is the key to any good relationship in gaming or business.  It’s this model that I use in business and it has served me well. 

So, my geeky gaming group experience is the secret sauce of my collaborative model for working with other businesses.  It is also important to understand that all relationships have a lifetime, some are short and some are long.  They are organic and can’t be forced.  If you want to get value out of your collaboration, be the one who shows up for every meeting prepared and early!