Collaboration Strategy: Avoid The Online Dating Syndrome

Lowe's has also built tremendous momentum around collaboration. The company's CEO is a great proponent of this effort. In fact, he writes one of the most popular blogs within the company, engaging with more than 285,000 employees several times a week.

Here are some other efforts I have seen companies make to foster a collaborative environment:

--Change the way employees are evaluated by making collaboration part of their salary or bonus plan.

--Shift rewards to focus on teams rather than on individuals.

--Create games and puzzles for teams to solve.

--Host jam sessions to brainstorm new ideas.

--Make strong senior executive support available, not just financially but with a physical presence.

--Allow more flexible work environments.

--Remove cubicles and change dress codes.

--Change the vision of the company and make it known that collaboration is the future of work.

Of course, not all such efforts are possible at all companies, and there is no single template that we can apply. The goal is simply to get you to think differently about collaboration. Think about how your collaboration initiatives can be supported. How can you truly embed collaboration within your company beyond simply deploying a tool?

As you build your collaboration strategy, remember to start with an online profile that actually looks like you. After all, you never know when you might meet that special someone.

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