Collaboration
Based on the information gathered from previous readings and the article, some of the essential characteristics necessary for a successful collaboration are individuals that understand and open-minded to working with others. In the article it discusses how collaboration is more than people liking each other or getting along, but developing a level of respect towards each other’s skills and input. Professionals need to be open-minded to other people’s ideas and opinions without needing to be right. Building a level of trust between colleague’s supports building respect for others, trust means sharing the same goal and interests. Essentially professionals need to remember the goal is providing the best support and aide to parents and their children. A successful collaboration needs to have positive forms of communication, which means not blaming others for someone else’s mistake. Communication also means keeping contact with team members and relating important information. There has to be a level of investment and commitment to setting time to build the respect, trust and communication. Professionals need to be committed to investing their time and skills. The most successful characteristics are people that are willing and dedicated to respecting team members, but believe that it not a solo mission. The best part of collaboration is that professionals ideally work together as a team to meet the goals and needs of the child and family.
Things that could hinder collaboration are individuals that approach collaboration, as a power struggle, competition or lack of interest is why collaboration cannot work. Individuals that do not help make contributions and/or are not open to others ideas or criticism will fail to work others. Collaboration fails when two people are unable to work together to compromise. For example, professionals that cannot get along because of different teaching styles will hinder the ability to work together, especially if both parties are unwilling to compromise and/or change their perspective to help balance each other. There needs to be a balance in the classroom, which is making sure that professionals are giving the same as they are getting back. Some of the hardest obstacles are professionals unable to look past their own ignorance or pride to work with others. People that are not team players and believe that one way is the only way. It relates to professionals that lack respect towards their colleagues, and lack commitment for building communication, trusting and respectful relationships.
In one experience I witnessed in a NEST classroom the general education teacher and the substitute teacher for the special educator that was maternity leave. Both teachers were constantly butting heads because the general education teacher was becoming overwhelmed and requesting the substitute to contribute more. The substitute teacher did not feel comfortable and did not feel it was her responsibility to help. It led to both teachers talking about each other behind close doors, and it created tensions in the classroom. While both teachers tried to plan and discuss how to divide the tasks throughout the day, the substitute was unwilling to compromise and the general education teacher approached the situation in a demanding way. What is difficult is that both people did not know each other; they were not given the opportunity to build trust and respect. This made collaborating with each other almost impossible because they could not look past their own prides. Neither party was willing to meet each other half way to think of a solution. Instead the problem continued to worsen by having supervisors needing to mediate the situation.
One way to overcome theses obstacles would be to make sure to start any form of collaboration on a good note. It is essential to set an example for the person who is unwilling to compromise or as committed. Building a relationship with professions is essential to making sure that respect and trust is maintained. This is achieved by having teachers work together outside of the classroom, making time to build that relationship and to stay open minded to others opinions. Being open-minded is accepting others values and styles. Professionals need to be aware of the language, tone and body that are projected to others. The small details are essential to contribute to building that invisible line of trust and respect because when a persons releases positive energy they will receive positive energy. It is important that trust and respect is built early, and matching the appropriate people is key to decrease the likelihood of future dilemmas in the future.
Based on the information gathered from previous readings and the article, some of the essential characteristics necessary for a successful collaboration are individuals that understand and open-minded to working with others. In the article it discusses how collaboration is more than people liking each other or getting along, but developing a level of respect towards each other’s skills and input. Professionals need to be open-minded to other people’s ideas and opinions without needing to be right. Building a level of trust between colleague’s supports building respect for others, trust means sharing the same goal and interests. Essentially professionals need to remember the goal is providing the best support and aide to parents and their children. A successful collaboration needs to have positive forms of communication, which means not blaming others for someone else’s mistake. Communication also means keeping contact with team members and relating important information. There has to be a level of investment and commitment to setting time to build the respect, trust and communication. Professionals need to be committed to investing their time and skills. The most successful characteristics are people that are willing and dedicated to respecting team members, but believe that it not a solo mission. The best part of collaboration is that professionals ideally work together as a team to meet the goals and needs of the child and family.
Things that could hinder collaboration are individuals that approach collaboration, as a power struggle, competition or lack of interest is why collaboration cannot work. Individuals that do not help make contributions and/or are not open to others ideas or criticism will fail to work others. Collaboration fails when two people are unable to work together to compromise. For example, professionals that cannot get along because of different teaching styles will hinder the ability to work together, especially if both parties are unwilling to compromise and/or change their perspective to help balance each other. There needs to be a balance in the classroom, which is making sure that professionals are giving the same as they are getting back. Some of the hardest obstacles are professionals unable to look past their own ignorance or pride to work with others. People that are not team players and believe that one way is the only way. It relates to professionals that lack respect towards their colleagues, and lack commitment for building communication, trusting and respectful relationships.
In one experience I witnessed in a NEST classroom the general education teacher and the substitute teacher for the special educator that was maternity leave. Both teachers were constantly butting heads because the general education teacher was becoming overwhelmed and requesting the substitute to contribute more. The substitute teacher did not feel comfortable and did not feel it was her responsibility to help. It led to both teachers talking about each other behind close doors, and it created tensions in the classroom. While both teachers tried to plan and discuss how to divide the tasks throughout the day, the substitute was unwilling to compromise and the general education teacher approached the situation in a demanding way. What is difficult is that both people did not know each other; they were not given the opportunity to build trust and respect. This made collaborating with each other almost impossible because they could not look past their own prides. Neither party was willing to meet each other half way to think of a solution. Instead the problem continued to worsen by having supervisors needing to mediate the situation.
One way to overcome theses obstacles would be to make sure to start any form of collaboration on a good note. It is essential to set an example for the person who is unwilling to compromise or as committed. Building a relationship with professions is essential to making sure that respect and trust is maintained. This is achieved by having teachers work together outside of the classroom, making time to build that relationship and to stay open minded to others opinions. Being open-minded is accepting others values and styles. Professionals need to be aware of the language, tone and body that are projected to others. The small details are essential to contribute to building that invisible line of trust and respect because when a persons releases positive energy they will receive positive energy. It is important that trust and respect is built early, and matching the appropriate people is key to decrease the likelihood of future dilemmas in the future.
Collaboration | |
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