The guys at Anecdote have been regularly blogging on valuable, practical techniques for collaborating successfully. Shawn’s latest post is another gem and also really timely as I setup the actKM Collaboration Cabaret. Quoting Shawn’s list of personal skills, we need to practice:

1. How to apologise
2. How to advocate your point of view without harming your collaborator’s feelings
3. How to spot when a conversation gets emotional and then make it safe again to continue meaningful dialogue
4. How to listen and get into the shoes of your collaborator
5. How to define a mutual intent that will inspire action
6. How to tell and elicit stories
7. How to get things done so you have something to show for your collaboration

I think these are spot on, but the list also reminds me of skills advocated for good project management, good partnering, negotiation skills, relationship counselling and so many other people focused activities. The fact is the our increasing ability to connect and communicate, leaves us in more and more situations where our personal people skills are put to the test. In a sense our humanness is becoming the rate-limiting factor to getting more things – and better things – done (my very plain english attempt at defining “greater collaboration”).

Do you know what your rate-limiting factor is? And don’t say time – that’s cheating. We can all say that :)