Idea in Brief

The Problem

In all too many organizations, efforts to promote and sustain collaboration fall short.

The Cause

Leaders trying to create collaborative cultures tend to focus on instilling the right values or designing the right space. They overlook the fact that collaboration requires certain skills.

The Solution

Follow the example of Pixar, Webasto, and other companies, and teach people to genuinely listen to one another; to approach discussions with empathy, not opinions; to become comfortable with feedback; to lead and follow; to speak with clarity and avoid abstractions; and to have win-win interactions.

Ask any leader whether his or her organization values collaboration, and you’ll get a resounding yes. Ask whether the firm’s strategies to increase collaboration have been successful, and you’ll probably receive a different answer.

A version of this article appeared in the November–December 2019 issue of Harvard Business Review.