Willingly Assisting Others

When I think about collaboration, I come back to one part of its meaning: willingly assisting others.

Working together sounds simple enough. Yet even small organizations can struggle when personal interests or departmental priorities become more important than the goals everyone shares.

Patrick Lencioni describes this as a serious team dysfunction: caring more about something else than the collective results of the group.

What tends to get in the way? Often it’s my status, my priorities, or the success of my own team or department. Those things can matter, but they shouldn’t become more important than the purpose of the organization.

To me, collaboration means keeping the broader goal in view and looking for ways to contribute, even when the work doesn’t fit neatly within my job description.

I remember Andy Stanley making the point that cooperation shouldn’t be limited by an organizational chart. That idea has stayed with me.

As a leader, I have an opportunity to model collaboration through my actions. That may mean making time for a colleague, sharing what I know, or helping someone work through a challenge—even when my own to-do list is full.

It can begin with one simple question:

“What is one thing I can do to help?”

Imagine what could change if we asked that question more often—and meant it.

Your coach’s insight…simply put.

— Rory