7 Ways to be an Excellent Collaborator in the Goldfish Economy

Every successful endeavor is a culmination of many parts working together in harmony and a result of clear intent.

Now that we’re officially living in a time where technology is in our veins, and, the concept of a “new normal” has lived well past its best-before date. The management of people, processes, and, systems comes into sharp focus as big corporates, enterprises, and, individuals alike adapt technology use so as to effectively pivot their business models. It’s a no-brainer, how we work has changed. Likewise, the transformation has to take into consideration ways of work that will optimize holistic productivity in the running of business and life.

While there are ample tools & resources made to ensure faster ways of collaboration and connecting people. The latter remains mission-critical because it’s still largely human beings that do the majority of the work that counts, and, it is also through their success that the strength of the workforce can be harnessed.

That said — the term goldfish economy is a relatively popular one, although not absolute either —which was coined following report findings by Microsoft Corporation in 2015, on a surveyed Canadian sample. The report described the 21st-century economy as one characterized by time-starved clients and consumers. Its findings suggested that the average person has an attention span of 8 seconds.

Thinking of work against this background, alongside the constant need to stay on the ball, I’ve put together (based on observation) a few micro methods that have been proven — to be helpful in the case of improving collaboration, creativity, cognitive flexibility, and effective decision-making for the benefit of all working on any given project or focus area together.

1. Be mindful
According to new perspectives and studies in neuroscience and psychology mindfulness is one of the most important things you can possess in today’s fast-paced world as an individual, especially if you work in the creative or knowledge industries.
Mindfulness doesn’t imply that you have to be a Buddhist monk in Tibet, or a traveler that has the luxury to go on spiritual retreats every quarter of the year. It does, however, mean that you have to nourish an open mind and be able to put your confirmation biases aside when dealing with people, new environments, as well as challenges.
Google defines mindfulness as “ the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”
According to the Director of The Mindfulness Initiative, Jamie Bristow “when we spend more time alive to our experience… we unlock our potential for learning and growing and are better able to respond creatively to life’s challenges.” An open mind is an open path, be willing to change your opinions or beliefs about something when presented with new facts and information.

2. Ditch the top-down approach

Whether you work with iconoclast entrepreneurs who take on business tasks like they take on firewalks or intrapreneurs who don’t want to stray too far from job security — your ability to manage “the maverick”, will prove critical for your success. Working with people who like to innovate and do things differently can be an advantage yet at the same time a challenge as these individuals can be considered high risk to deal with.

Thus, embark on interactions with team members using more holistic approaches that include a more flexible bottom-up approach or a combination of both that can help create a safe space for engagement where ideas can be evaluated and risks explored. People are more likely to work enthusiastically and take ownership in an enterprise where their ideas, innovations, and views are acknowledged and they can advance not because of conformity or longevity alone but rather also through their contribution. The upside is that in the long run, you can develop workers to be equipped to deal with various tasks in the organisation not limited by task or job description.

3. Pick your players and understand them

Empathy is something of a rare commodity in a world that is constantly screaming and confuses the balance between compassion and sympathy.

That said, unless you are a factory that produces via assembly line, you want to tap into the uniqueness and varied and sometimes opposing views of your teammates and colleagues. A sincere connection with the people you work with can drastically increase productivity and output.

Researcher and Professor Brene Brown says that “Empathy is a skill that can bring people together and make people feel included, while sympathy creates an uneven power dynamic and can lead to more isolation and disconnection.”
Understanding where others come from is important. Be intentional about knowing your people in an empowering way, whether it is through team-building activities, regular face-to-face catchup for those working remotely, or shared post-work activities like scrabble, quiz, or karaoke nights.

Empathy can also increase your ability to retain customers or clients, as increased empathy for their needs makes the overall brand experience comfortable. As famous author and poet Maya Angelou once said; “ At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

4. Stay tapped on & tuned in

There’s a common misconception among self-starters that great businesses stumble upon great breakthroughs, but, this is not true. A clear understanding of company's vision and mission helps create an atmosphere where all players can thrive.
Whether you’re a c-suite executive, entrepreneur, or start-up founder — a successful product in a market or industry might mean you are an expert in the field, but, relying on guts and data alone won’t always rake in the impact you need.
To be tuned in means discovering meaningful insights either from customers, friends, colleagues, or associates that can help you save time on innovating and help you instead iterate on products that resonate with your customers. That said, never underestimate the power of reiterating what your vision and mission are every time you work with new partners, etc, especially if your initiative, organisation, or company has gone through transformative changes that might leave some confused.

5. Onboard seamlessly
Have a comprehensive but easy onboarding strategy for your clients and customers where you will be able to identify their goals and objectives alongside your mission without the need for too many meetings or tedious to and fro emails.
The onboarding strategy will also help you figure out whether a connect or potential customer is a good fit for your needs and vice versa.
This is a critical factor in your brand's journey and experience that can save you and your team lots of time.

6. Debrief
At the end of every project or campaign ensure that you make time to sit through the ins and outs of the product or service you offered. Consider thoroughly what worked and what could have worked better in hindsight through a S.W.O.T (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. This will help improve future tactics going forward.

7. Be humble

You can never really know what to expect when dealing with people, however, if you know how to deal with yourself you can always choose to respond versus react.
Encouraging a culture of humility, irrespective of which side of the business chain you operate in will prove critical in whether you rise or flop, as this sets the tone of the overall impression of your brand.
This can vary based on the situation, however, basic principles such as active listening, asking for help when necessary, or even recognising the knowledge gaps in your skills are important. This not only helps people decide whether they want to work with you or not, as much as it greatly speaks to how well you take feedback, constructive criticism, and sometimes downright pushback on the service or solution you provide. As the common ubuntu dictum goes — to earn respect you must serve respect.