Collaborate - It's the Path to Success

Google recently released a new piece of software called "Google Wave". It hasn't received a lot of popular press attention, perhaps because it's not about social media like Facebook or Twitter - and those things are still "flavour of the year".

But in its way, it's far more powerful. Why? Because it helps people work together.

In other words, it helps you to collaborate.

Although Google Wave itself was short-lived, you might have noticed that on-line collaboration is an important trend today - even if you're a one-person business who makes a living telling other people what to do.

For example ...

  • You can collaborate more with clients when customising a presentation to suit their needs.
  • You invite colleagues to be guest presenters for members of your membership site.
  • I'm seeing more examples of two or three experts collaborating on books, so readers get the value of their combined expertise.
  • More successful podcasts are now done as interviews or with multiple presenters, rather than just one person talking into a microphone.
  • Even audiences are expecting more collaboration during your presentation, as my friend Alicia Curtis points out.

These are not isolated examples.

The Internet makes it easier for people to collaborate. Even if those people live in different time zones, different countries, different cultures and live very different lives. They can still come together easily and effectively - certainly far easier than ever before.

Webinars.
Teleseminars.
Conference calls.
Facebook.
LinkedIn.
Skype.
On-line forums.
Google Docs.
Elance.
Ning.

These are all examples of modern tools that help people collaborate. And all are available to "normal" people without any particular technical skills.

Are YOU collaborating with others?

This is not about the tools and the technology. Sure, the tools are necessary to make the collaboration easier. But it's first about your mindset.

Are you actively seeking ways to collaborate? It really is the way of the future, so if you're not doing it, you're falling behind.

Here are some questions to get you started:

  1. Which colleagues - other experts - can you collaborate with easily to bring more value to your clients and audiences?
  2. How can you enlist your audiences in making your next presentation even more effective? (One obvious way is to survey them before your presentation. That's still effective, but what's another way?)
  3. What collaboration technology are you not using yet - but could make a significant difference if you do start using it?

Permission to Reprint: Yes, you may reprint this article in any of your publications - paid or free, electronic or physical, commercial or non-commercial - provided you do not edit it in any way (except for formatting changes to suit your publication style), and include this resource box with the article:

Gihan Perera is an Internet coach for speakers, trainers, consultants and other business professionals. He's the author of "Fast, Flat and Free: How the Internet Has Changed Your Business". Visit http://GihanPerera.com and get free e-books, webinars and more.

I would also appreciate receiving a copy of the issue in which it appears, if that is convenient.