Exploring collaboration

How is the new business world is being shaped by collaboration rather than competition and what are the challenges and benefits of working in a more interconnected way in today’s world of work?

Our Future Thinking Forums are designed to draw together like-minded people from a wide variety of sectors in order to discuss and explore exactly what the title of the event suggests: the future world of work and the current thinking on subjects that relate to this. We run these three times a year, and for our recent October Forum we were hosted by Cancer UK in the stunning Angel Building in Islington. Our topic of the moment? Collaboration – one of the five key themes we’re seeing in the changing world of work.

Our keynote speaker, Karen Ward from the Corporate Research Forum, provided valuable insight into this area and provoked some very interesting discussion. Here’s a snapshot of some of the most provoking thoughts and questions that were raised:

For a start, the ‘What’s in it for me?’ question came up. “Why should I go and talk to others in different departments/organisations?” might be an attitude that needs to be overcome - but it was thought that a common shared purpose can help to drive everything else (think of The Lion King at the Lyceum, where the show works to perfection). If it’s something very immediate and tangible, it can solve the thorny issue of ‘What’s my role in our shared purpose?’

The whole issue of trust was also raised and it was suggested that ideally we would be able to say: “I have confidence that people will do what they say they will.” How does this play out in the context of the organisational dynamic? Interestingly, the social transition that has occurred in our technologically-driven world has highlighted our ‘virtual’ trust of, for example, online retailers. Does this help to broaden collaboration? Karen mentioned the work of David Maister, author of ‘The Trusted Advisor’ and a former Harvard professor. He suggests that trust depends on credibility, reliability, intimacy and self-orientation.

Our Forums provide valuable networking opportunities and excellent insight into current trends in the world of work. Attendance is by invitation only, but if you’re interested in finding out more, please contact our Managing Directors Sandra Evans and Julie Blunt.