The following article was first published by The Institute for Collaborative Working in the November 2024 issue of The Partner, available here, (page 24)
Author: Victoria Groom, strategy and collaboration lead at Costain
What’s in it for me? It is a question that doesn’t sound collaborative, however, creating an environment and culture
where people can truly connect with the personal value created from effective collaboration, is the focus for this article.
In the fast-paced and interconnected world of today, collaboration has become a cornerstone of success. We know that working well with others is essential for achieving our collective goals effand effectively, while also driving innovation. However, while collaboration is commonly seen as a strategic imperative for a commercial engagement to be successful, at Costain we know that developing capability and skills in the personal connections is critical, and through our High Performing Integrated Teams (HPIT) Programme we have been able to harness its true power of collaboration.
Personalised collaboration is about more than just working together; it’s about understanding, respecting, and valuing the unique contributions and perspectives of everyone involved. It is this approach to personalised collaboration that has helped our projects to foster stronger connections, drive innovation, and deliver greater overall success.
Building trust, respect and rapport
A crucial element of personalised collaboration is the cultivation of trust, respect and rapport among team members. Our HPIT Programme provides training, practical tools and guidance that support a culture where people feel valued and respected as unique individuals and our people equally understand their personal commitments to make others feel that way too. We help our teams demonstrate leading behaviours in relation to trust, respect and rapport and as a result we see our teams, sharing ideas, challenging the status quo and engaging in honest dialogue. We cultivate environments where trust forms the foundation upon which effective collaboration is built.
At Costain we have encouraged our project teams to recognise the importance and value of building trust and embed a consistent understanding of how trust can be built within teams. In addition, various engagement tools, such as team temperature checks, behavioural observation data and feedback channels help us understand ways to continually improve the approach. Our My Collaborative Behaviours tool allows individuals to explore how they can build trust, respect and rapport and understand the value of collaboration within the relationships relevant to their role and the real value that can be unlocked through improved working relationships. This has seen our people demonstrating personal commitment to collaboration and, most importantly, benefiting from the effort.
Enhancing communication and constructive challenge
Effective communication and engagement on our projects has proven essential for successful collaboration. By taking the time to understand each other’s communication styles, preferences, and motivations, our team members have been able to communicate more effectively and are now better at understanding each other. Our communication and engagement training, which focuses on individual and personalised behaviour that is within an individual’s control, has supported our people to
implement active listening, consider the importance of empathy and the ability to see things from different perspectives. This has supported workplace environments with clear and more effective communication.
Moreover, where we have seen differences arise, the ownership and understanding of personalised collaboration has provided a solid framework for resolution. By building strong relationships and trust among our team members, individuals are more willing to engage in constructive dialogue and seek mutually beneficial solutions. Personalised collaboration has fostered a culture of empathy and a shared commitment to finding common ground.
Nurturing accountability, improvement and innovation
Our accountability approach across our projects has meant that our people better understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences; team members have been able to allocate tasks more effectively, play to each other’s strengths, and adjust their approach as needed to achieve desired outcomes. We enable and empower our people to better understand from an individual perspective the value that exists
within the team. Personalised collaboration has encouraged teams to embrace change, adapt to new circumstances, and innovate in response to challenges.
Leveraging diversity and inclusion
Personalised collaboration at Costain also embraces the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each team member brings to the table. By proactively taking steps to ensure that our people recognise and embracing diversity, enhancing communication, and nurturing flexibility, personalised collaboration empowers teams to achieve their goals more effectively and create lasting impact. As we continue to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the ability to make collaboration personal will be essential for driving positive change and achieving shared success.