Understanding Collaboration

Collaboration, in its essence, refers to the ability to work effectively with others. For many, it may evoke memories of challenging group projects from high school and university.

And the truth is, those challenges don’t vanish as you progress into graduate studies or the broader job market!

We often envision a genius as a lone researcher, immersed in deep thought in a lab, achieving groundbreaking discoveries in solitude.

In reality, the scenario is quite different.

Here’s an important lesson on collaboration for anyone holding or pursuing an advanced degree — and this applies to everyone, as we should all strive to be more collaborative at work.

Realizing the Benefits of Teamwork

What are some tangible examples of collaboration that illustrate how working with others can lead to significant advantages? Here are a few from my own academic experiences:

• I teamed up with a wet-lab scientist who assisted in generating raw data, while I focused on processing the bioinformatics aspects.
• I developed scripts that streamlined my colleagues' tasks, enabling them to handle large spreadsheets more efficiently.
• Instead of exhausting myself trying to learn new techniques, I sought advice from fellow students and coworkers, acquiring valuable insights.
• Collaborating with our lab manager allowed me to source necessary reagents and tools without straining my budget!

Had I attempted to master every skill required for my PhD, I would have spent at least twice as long in school, overwhelmed by the breadth of knowledge needed.

Think about crafting a sandwich from scratch — truly from the ground up. To create a BLT, you would need to:

• Cultivate wheat
• Grow tomatoes and lettuce
• Raise mustard plants (for mustard) or chickens (for mayo)
• Grind the wheat into flour and bake it into bread
• Raise and process a pig for bacon

Wouldn’t it be far simpler to collaborate with a baker, a gardener, and a pig farmer? Clearly, that would be a more efficient approach!

Networking Through Collaboration

Let's face it: networking is often uncomfortable. Few enjoy the task of meeting new people, especially the introverts among us.

However, one of the most effective ways to network is by finding someone with complementary skills in your field and collaborating with them.

Many professionals, including scientists, dread the idea of forced networking. I’ve attended numerous awkward mixers where scientists huddle in clusters, reluctant to engage with one another until the drinks start flowing. Networking for the sake of connections often feels disingenuous.

Yet, when we collaborate on a shared project, it transforms the interaction into something meaningful. We are not just networking for personal gain; we are working together to achieve a common goal.

I’ve made valuable connections through hackathons, which are classic examples of collaboration. While tackling shared challenges, I’ve built relationships with individuals from diverse companies, universities, and government agencies.

Look at these individuals collaborating! Though they may be frustrating the laptop's owner with all their screen touching, they are engaging in a productive dialogue. Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

Embracing Vulnerability in Collaboration

I don’t mean to suggest you should act foolishly. Rather, it's important not to let pride prevent you from asking questions or admitting when you don’t know something.

In many academic circles, there’s a hesitance to voice the first question after a presentation, leading to an uncomfortable silence. I often take the initiative to ask what might seem like a "dumb question."

What happens next? It opens the floodgates, allowing others to express their confusion and ask their own questions without fear of judgment. This dynamic fosters a more collaborative environment.

Good collaborators are those who recognize they don’t have all the answers. Acknowledging that others may have more expertise allows for richer partnerships.

Know your strengths and limitations, and see the potential for collaboration as a positive opportunity.

In both academic and industry settings, collaboration is an essential, yet often overlooked, soft skill. Effective collaborators enhance productivity by sharing responsibilities and forging connections.

In our current landscape, whether in research or industry, it’s rare for anyone to work in complete isolation. At some point, everyone must engage in cooperation and collaboration.

Prepare yourself to embrace the power of collaboration, whether that moment is on the horizon or right now. Together, we can achieve far more than we can alone.