Collaboration in our lives and beyond

A stone or a piece of paper can be held in our hands. But to think of holding something larger, we have to invite others who will hold it with their arms wide open. When we hold on tightly to something, we exercise complete control over it; but while we hold with our arms wide, we let go of our control in favour of harnessing the power of collaboration.

 

Importance of Collaboration

Collaborating with one another leads to more innovation, increased success, effective progresses and most importantly it helps to improve the communication amongst ourselves.

Our daily lives are fuelled by collaboration as it helps us as well as our team members reach our goals by listening, learning and providing opinions towards one another’s ideas. Collaboration improves the way our team works together and solves a problem. It brings people and organizations together, boosting the morale.

Collaboration through Co-branding

As we pursue imagination at every stage of our life, every moment in our life can become the aha! moment. The very realisation that collaboration is the most important thing in our lives, is in itself a grand revelation. It is not only useful to expand a business but also to help people and brands learn from one another. It means asking for feedback and opinions and sharing knowledge.

Nowadays, different brands and influencers collaborate with one another as it helps to attract publicity and build some buzz around them. It helps them to reach potential customers through the cross- promotion. Some famous brands that have collaborated in the past are Nike and Apple, Starbucks and Spotify, BMW and Louis Vuitton, Burger king and Mc Donald’s.

Co-branding is a strategic marketing and advertising partnership between two brands wherein the success of one brand brings the success to its partner brand too. Collaborating by co-branding can be an effective way to build business, boost awareness and break into new markets for a partnership to truly work. Through co-branding,  one brand signals the trustworthiness of the other.

We say that working collaboratively rather than working individually can be very effective as it helps to improve our productivity and gives us students a sense of purpose in the organisation. Even Albert Einstein is known to have collaborated with two of his fellows at ETH Zurich –Marcell Grossman and Michele Besso in the formulation of his acclaimed theories.

 

The cornerstone of Collaboration

At the basis of collaboration lies trust. It is the foundation of relationships because it allows you to be vulnerable and open up to the person without having to defensively protect yourself.

Every single decision we make in our lives is a piece of communication. This is why authenticity matters because the things we do and say are a symbol of who we are.

Being able to collaborate is thus our biggest achievement that will help us become more effective at resolving conflicts. And mother nature has designed us in such a way we feel good only if we help others. Sky is the limit when we collaborate. So aptly has it been said, “ A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.”

 

About the author:

The article has been contributed by Sejal Singhal, student of St. Joseph’s High School, Matigara, Darjeeling