Connect. Communicate. Collaborate.

I saw a billboard recently with the following words : Connect. Communicate. Collaborate. Not sure whether I have got the exact sequence but the message is clear. The product being advertised (by a Malaysian telco)is meant to make it easier for us (the users) to communicate, connect and collaborate. Or maybe to make it easier for us to collaborate by connecting and communicating. Whatever. It got me thinking nevertheless.

I was in Jakarta recently to conduct a workshop for a fantastic group of regional managers of a client. Fantastic because they were on the pulse of things even though I pushed them from 8am to 8pm and also because I was amazed by the feedback that they gave about the program. It showed clearly that they were listening and digesting and figuring it out how to apply whatever that I was proposing to their workplace challenges.

That's not all. As much as they had learnt from me, I think they had learnt much more from each other. They came from different markets with different experiences and challenges. Each one of them came with a field of knowledge and perspectives that were fresh in the eyes of the others. As one explained about a particular people challenge, another quickly suggested an approach that had worked at her workplace. When one talked about a product related challenge, yet another shared his own experiences. In the end, I ended up playing my intended role : as a facilitator of discovery. Although that's how I often introduce my self in my workshops, I usually end as the 'teacher' instead. I guess some cultures are more comfortable to learn from teaching while others by discovery. I love to do both.

But imagine for a second here how much inherent knowledge already existing in your organisation. Then imagine how powerful your teams will be if each knows what the other is doing and is capable of doing. Also, imagine how much more effective your organisation will be if there is a seamless transfer of knowledge and skills from one to another; locally, regionally and geographically.

Now, I know what you are thinking! Knowledge Management right? Bah. That's a fancy word for something so simple : Sharing. Its an expensive word too. KM has its place. My own organisation has its KM system which I love BUT it is so effective precisely because there is genuine sharing between all members of my organisation. The KM system helps us to Connect. But, we are the ones who Communicate and Collaborate. The system can't do the latter; only the former. Let me give an illustration. Just a couple of hours before I began writing this piece, I was on the office communicator with my colleague. I didn't ask for any support. I was just updating her on a particular project. Before I ended our 'communisation' she had emailed me some stuff that may be useful to me later for this project. And, this happens even when I am talking to my colleagues who are hundreds and thousands of miles away. Interestingly, although even those I have not met before seem to share willingly, I do find that those with whom I have shaken hands or had a drink during our regional meetings or programs, seem to share much more and far more speedily. There seems to be more than just connection...there is also communication and collaboration too.

The thing is, I feel many organisations have forgotten that some of the most high return strategy are sometimes unbelievably simple. You want your regional teams to work more efficiently cross-border? Don't just invest in a fancy conference call system. Make them meet! Eye-to-eye. Body-to-body. Let them go for a dinner or two. Trust me, you will get better returns from your conference call hardware after that.

Then just this week, I was conducting a workshop for a group of Gen Ys. We were discussing a particularly difficult personal career management issue. Of course, I said everything that I had to say. I pleaded and cajoled them not to feel helpless. Nevertheless, I could see that they were not convinced. Who could blame them. A 40 year old (Yes! yours truly is 40 this year. I had trouble accepting that in January but I am over it now!)telling them that they are just worrying themselves silly for nothing. What would I know! Then, I remembered talking to one of them just an hour earlier during lunch and he was sharing with me how he had personally overcome that very particular problem we were discussing about! As I turned my head instinctively towards him, I saw his eyes shining with anticipation. He knew I was going to call him out to share his experiences. He came over to the front (I moved to the back) and he spoke a good 20 minutes on his experiences. And wallah...believers were in the flock.

Amazing...this connecting, communicating and collaborating. Go try it with your teams. Ask your CEO to invest some money into this.