By Lydia Vidal. What did the people in the photo have to do to complete the simple puzzle? Collaboration doesn’t just happen by magic. And getting along isn’t enough either. It’s built with intention, practice, and the right conditions.
Back to the photo: these people had to communicate, move around, maybe pass pieces from one hand to another...
Let’s look at another example. Imagine a team in a tech company that had to deliver a key proposal in two weeks. Each team member was highly competent—top of their field. Everyone knew what they had to do.
But something failed, and they didn’t meet the deadline.They didn’t share information in time. They didn’t ask how others were doing. Each person stayed in their own lane, trusting the rest would “do their part.” The result: they delivered late, with mistakes, and the opportunity was lost.
What was missing? Collaboration.
Collaboration isn’t just about dividing up tasks or being in the same Zoom meeting. As Buddhists say, everything is connected, interrelated.
"If you look deeply into a sheet of paper, you will see a cloud.
Without a cloud, there can be no paper.
Without the cloud, there is no rain.
Without rain, the tree cannot grow.
Without the tree, there is no paper."
In this quote, Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us that nothing exists in isolation. Neither do teams.
Collaboration from a Coaching Perspective
From the lens of executive coaching, we distinguish what collaboration is—and what it isn’t: Competing is not collaborating. Imposing is not collaborating. Controlling everything is not collaborating.
And because coaching is a practice, we know collaboration isn’t a technique—it’s a way of being with others. It’s not a personal trait; it’s a shared practice that involves:
- Acknowledging my vulnerability
- Knowing how to ask for help
- Letting go of control and trusting
- Listening with empathy
- Connecting to a shared purpose
8 Tips to Improve Collaboration in a Team
- Clarity of roles and responsibilities
Each person needs to know what’s expected of them—and what they can expect from others. - A clear and shared direction
When there’s a common purpose, decisions align more easily. - Explicit agreements about the how
What do we allow and not allow in this team? How we work is just as important as what we do. - Spaces to build trust
Not everything is operational. Sharing strengths, fears, or loose ideas creates real connections. - Training in emotional intelligence
Collaborating means being aware of how I feel—and being able to regulate myself so I don’t react automatically. - Knowing how to ask for and give feedback
Collaboration matures through honest, respectful conversations. - Clear up misunderstandings early
An unresolved doubt today can turn into silent friction tomorrow. - Remember we’re interrelated
Just as paper needs the cloud, no result ever belongs to just “one person.”
Coaching Distinctions
Finally, to train this way of listening, communicating, asking, and managing expectations... You can explore these distinctions in more depth on the EEC YouTube channel: (videos in Spanish) Coaching Distinctions – EEC Distinciones de Coaching – EEC
