Adult Learner Course Unit 3 - Collaboration

Collaboration In the Continuous Improvement Experience|you explored how to actively seek growth opportunities — and how you can help others grow as well. You know now that when you approach your career and life with an attitude of growth and the actions to actively seek it|you can better contribute to the people and work around you. In the Initiative Experience|you developed skills that aid you in taking initiative. Seeking growth opportunities equips you with the skills|knowledge and confidence you need to make sure you are being motivated to take action|make decisions and do work without prompting. Once you are committed to personal and professional growth and empowered to engage in your work with initiative|you can work more effectively with others. Through this Experience|you will explore how you can develop meaningful and productive collaborative environments and efforts. Collaboration is defined as practices|tools and skills that enable individuals to work together for a common purpose. Collaboration is highly valued in the workplace for its ability to generate creative solutions to problems. In addition|it enables you to increase employee satisfaction and apply information and expertise where they are most productive. Six Essential Elements support collaboration|all of which are associated with the “Workplace Skills” component of the SkillsUSA Framework: Communication: Communication skills help you work professionally with colleagues and customers; get your ideas across verbally and in writing; and understand and apply workplace materials|such as procedures and policies. Decision Making: Decision making is about solving problems. Using data|reasoning|resourcefulness and creativity to solve a problem helps you choose the most effective strategy. Teamwork: Team players work cooperatively with others|build trusting relationships and honor and apply the contributions and individual strengths of team members. These teamwork skills are important|regardless of whether you are a leader or a member of a team. Multicultural Sensitivity and Awareness: Being personable toward different people and cultures; fostering appropriate and respectful workplace relationships and interaction; and building your knowledge of different cultures|races|religions and sexualities will help you work well with all your colleagues. Planning|Organizing and Management: This includes designing and implementing detailed plans|prioritizing and managing multiple and changing priorities and persevering to complete projects and tasks within desired time frames and in adherence to established standards of quality. Leadership: Good leaders craft and articulate a vision and goals — and motivate and coach others to achieve them — by building positive relationships with others and giving them the resources they need to be successful.