In this episode, hosts Merv Jersak and Tim Jerome dive into the importance of collaboration in project management, differentiating it from cooperation by emphasizing a shared goal and purpose within a team. They discuss strategies for improving project delivery by focusing on the human aspects of project management, including establishing a culture of collaboration, fostering effective communication, and setting clear roles and responsibilities. They also touch on the importance of leadership in creating an environment that encourages teamwork and addresses the challenges and tools to enhance collaboration among project teams.

Main Take-Aways

Collaboration is an essential skill for project leaders in order to lead their teams to successful project outcomes:

• there is a difference between collaboration and mere cooperation
• develop a shared understanding of the common goals of the project
• establish communication channels
• clarify roles and responsibilities
• create a collaborative team environment
• be a leader that fosters collaboration

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: The Art of Collaboration in Project Management

00:45 Leadership as the umbrella for the upcoming podcasts on essential skills that project managers need to learn and apply.

01:19 Tim and Merv begin week 6 with an introduction to the essential skill of collaboration by defining what collaboration means in a project team setting.

02:22 Exploring the difference between collaboration and cooperation, and how collaboration brings in the idea of a common goal.

03:45 The power of collaboration to align the work of the team and to create a shared understanding in order to focus on their shared goals.

05:21 Establish regular communication channels for the team to maintain their focus on their shared goals.

06:14 Clarify roles and responsibilities to achieve maximum collaborative engagement across the team.

06:39 You as project managers need to also check yourselves to ensure transparency in collaboration.

07:36 Create a team environment that fosters collaboration.

10:46 The role of project managers in fostering collaboration across the team. Team members need to feel that they are contributors.

12:34 Provide an environment for team members to meet their own personal objectives as they help meet the overall project objectives.

15:48 Leverage a variety of techniques to encourage healthy collaboration: a collaborative environment, an environment for effective communication, an understanding that there will be difference of opinion, building in expectations, leading by example.