By most text book definitions, collaboration is the interaction among two or more individuals that can encompass a variety of actions, such as communication, information sharing, problem solving, and negotiation.  But to many, collaboration has become synonymous with software technologies to allow remote parties to interact, and team development exercises that feel good at the time but induce little sustainable change. Three main barriers to successful collaboration in business are:

• Inability to speak openly

  When the individual knows, or infers, that their opinions are not shared by the other party, the best collaboration is no collaboration at all, in situations where the individual has the option to take no action. Where interaction is forced by a superior or other overriding circumstances, the discussion usually dissolves into either debate or ‘packaging’ - incomplete, superficial representation of the opinion.

  SP/Dialogue provides the tools for individuals to produce safe environments for more open discussion in everyday conversation and business settings, with colleagues, customers and other relationships.

• Misunderstanding intent

  An individual who doesn't understand another party's intent will make an inference according to their reputation. Such intent is implicit in interactions and drives how the individual interprets the other's actions and words. Our experience is that inferences of intent in business settings are either highly accurate or highly inaccurate - the latter being the cause of much strife and dissatisfaction among otherwise well-intentioned individuals.

  SP/Dialogue provides the tools for recognizing and testing inferences in day-to-day business interactions.

• Inability to act in line with expectations

  The high expectations, stretch goals, and complex relationships of business today lead to dilemmas where individuals find it difficult to fully and sincerely engage in an interaction because of the potential for negative side effects. Too often, these dilemmas become unresolved concerns that 'fix themselves' in less than ideal ways, or the only recourse is for the individual to unilaterally design a suboptimal solution.

  SP/Dialogue provides training in skills and tools to recognize and resolve these situations. 

Once educated in SchellingPoint's skills and tools, individuals can replace avoidance, frustration, and unsatisfactory outcomes with the confidence to engage and collaborate, in even the toughest situations, to achieve what they need to where it involves coordinating with others.