COLLABORATION

Co-operating

The behaviours in the table below show how you can demonstrate the skill of Co-operating at each of the competency levels in which it appears. Click on the plus sign to show the behaviours at that level.

Click here to read more about how the competency levels work.

Resources

Below you will find learning resources to help you develop the skill of Co-operating. Click on the links to access the resources.

PDFs

The Power of Empathy

Empathy is one of the most powerful tools you can use to build productive relationships. It is fundamental to building collaboration. This PDF explains what empathy is, how to demonstrate it, and the impact it will have if you choose (or not) to use it. It will help you to defuse conflict, connect with and motivate others, and improve efficiency.

Assert Yourself
If you find yourself habitually too aggressive or passive/non-assertive, or have someone in your team who is, this PDF will help you to consciously shift towards a more productive balance of self and others, and/or help others to do so, as it explains what assertion is and how to achieve it.

The Chimp Brain
Dr Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain explains simply the primitive drivers behind some of our more problematic behaviours and what we can do to manage them. These drives are Ego, Power, Security, Territory, and Troop, and each can be, and often are, challenged at work, leading to outbursts, arguments, and sometimes physical confrontations. Every person has a Chimp and is susceptible to these problems, but if we learn to recognise what is happening and how to manage the results, we can reduce the negative outcomes.

The Human Brain
Following on from Dr Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain, as outlined in the PDF ‘The Chimp Brain’, this PDF looks at how the Human brain works i.e. how we are when we have logical and regulated emotional thinking.

Managing the Chimp
Following on from Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain, as outlined in the PDF ‘The Chimp Brain’, this PDF looks in more depth at how to manage your Chimp and control unwanted emotional responses. It describes several ways in which you can do this. These techniques also help regulate and manage other people’s strong emotional reactions.

VIDEOS
The Power of Empathy
This video explains why and how empathy is one of the most powerful tools you can use to build productive relationships. It is fundamental to building collaboration. Learn if you are already demonstrating empathy effectively, how easy it is to stop doing it, how to be alerted to using it effectively and realise the benefits it brings.

Assert Yourself
This video provides an explanation of a fundamentally important approach and mindset, being assertive, and how you or others might adopt a less helpful one of being non-assertive, aggressive, or avoiding. You will learn how to recognise the different approaches, if you need to adjust how you behave and what you say to project a more assertive/collaborative stance towards others, especially if they are using an unhelpful approach towards you.

The Chimp Brain part 1
The Chimp Brain part 2
This video explains Dr Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain, the primitive drivers behind some of our more problematic behaviours, and what we can do to manage them. These drives can be, and often are, challenged at work, leading to outbursts, arguments, and sometimes physical confrontations. Every person has a Chimp and is susceptible to these problems, but this video will help you to learn to recognise what is happening and how it is possible to reduce the unhelpful triggers and behaviours.

The Human Brain
Following on from Dr Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain, as outlined in the video ‘The Chimp Brain’, this video looks at how the Human brain works, i.e. how we are when we have logical and regulated emotional thinking. You will learn why and how regulated thinking and behaviour is so helpful and also how to do it.

Managing the Chimp
Following on from Steve Peters’ model of the Chimp brain, as outlined in the video ‘The Chimp Brain’, this video looks in more depth at how to manage your Chimp and control unwanted emotional responses. It describes several ways in which you can do this. These techniques also help you to regulate and manage other people’s strong emotional reactions and bring them back to using their own ‘Human Brain’.

ON THE JOB ACTIONS
Awareness
Read and/or watch 'The Power of Empathy' and think about the situation, thoughts, and feelings of your colleagues. If you also read and/or watch 'Assert Yourself', you will discover that knowing or considering what others think and feel doesn’t mean you are ’giving in’; rather, that it is the basis of a confident and assertive response.


No Blaming!
Recognise when personal differences might affect your approach and talk these through objectively and calmly with a colleague. Read and/or watch the video 'The Chimp Brain' and 'Managing the Chimp' so that you are not responding from your own Chimp.

Be Co-operative
Read and/or watch The Human Brain to understand how you can operate at your best for yourself, and with your colleagues.

Joint Working
Identify an opportunity for collaboration with another part of the organisation or external body. Develop ways of exploiting the relationship for the benefit of both parties.

Governance
Review how the governance around your activities can be altered to highlight the importance of cooperation. For example, avoid reviews that focus just on problems and blame and include successes and praise. Make sure that goals are joint but specific responsibilities are clear e.g. with a RACI analysis.