Collaboration is the key to business success.

Whilst collaboration and cooperation are said to be the top soft skills of the future and the abilities that will differentiate human beings from robots, and these skills are very useful in the present times too.

What is collaboration and cooperation?

Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce something. Cooperation is the action or process of working together to achieve the same end result. These actions can be different or can be very similar. 

Collaboration and cooperation can also be invaluable tools to help you progress your business, project or your dream. Even if you are a sole entrepreneur, or do not have means to pay for top advisors, or simply think that you can or have to ‘do it all’, you will always benefit from cooperation with other people. 

Can you succeed on your own?

Nobody achieves success on their own. It may sometimes look to you that someone succeeded by themselves. It is never the truth though. Behind every success there are people who helped ‘behind the scenes. They may be friends and family who provided moral support, or they can be people to whom certain tasks were delegated. They may be coaches, trainers or some other experts. 

Having a team of people who can provide the necessary help or support is vital. So if you have a project to run, you should consider what help you could get from other people.

Where to get help?

Joining a relevant professional or trade organization is always helpful. You should also consider joining communities of like-minded people. Joining Mastermind groups is proven to increase the chances of succeeding. Brainstorming and exchanging information can provide a useful shortcut and save you a lot of time. And unless you are a teenager, who by definition knows it all (in other words, is ‘in the age of infinite wisdom’) you will always draw advantages from conversations with others. You may find a solution, you may find a direction to the right place or person, you may start a long-term collaboration or friendship. 

Women’s Business Link is a vibrant community full of positive, energetic and experienced women. And we always encourage that our members reach out to each other and support one another. And we are happy to observe the growing collaborations and listening to their success stories. Check our directory page and get in touch with our member. 

One important thing to remember….

Sometimes people find it difficult to ask for help. So firstly you need to convince yourself that you have not much to lose. Ask yourself where would you be if the answer was negative? Probably you would be in the same place. Not much of a loss, right? And where would you be if the answer is positive? You may gain a lot: by asking the right question you may received assistance that can transport you to where you need to be. 

To increase your chances of an affirmative reply, you need to make sure that you explain your needs in a clear and concise way and that you ask your question in a way that will be understood by the listener and not too difficult for them to help you. This is a skill in itself but practicing it will bring tangible effects. 

Happy collaboration and cooperation!