Are you ready to take your next initiative to another level? The best way to move smarter and faster is to team up, find a partner or collaborators that have a similar vision or mission as you. Let’s face it, playing singles is a whole lot of work. It means everything you do out on the court or off, you’re doing alone. Teamwork is so much better when you get it right. That’s why I like doubles and why I strongly believe in the concept of collaboration. It’s easier when you have a partner and a team so today, I want to share 5 keys for effective collaboration that you can use in your business, at work or on the courts. 

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Key 1. Understand each Team Members Role and Position
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The best way to make collaboration work is to understand your role and position. If I’m playing a match and playing at the net, my role is to take time away from the opponent, to attack the ball and to close the point if possible. When I’m put in that position, I understand that role and so does my partner. When you collaborate off the court, everyone has a part to play. Too often, roles are not established and positions are not clear so teams and organizations don’t work well collectively. Every organization and team needs to know from the beginning who’s doing what and their individual role in the collective in order to be efficient and effective.

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Key 2. Communicate Consistently
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If you watch a professional doubles match, the partners communicate after every point. It looks strange when you see it because recreational doubles players rarely communicate ongoing strategy. The same thing happens with teams. Perhaps there’s good communication in the beginning and then it tapers off a bit. To be truly effective, you should be communicating regularly throughout the project, initiative or whatever the collaboration. Think about your teams: How often do you discuss strategy? When and how do you communicate? When there’s a lack of communication on the double’s court, here’s one way it shows up:  A ball comes down the middle of the court. Two players stand dumbfounded looking at the ball pass by. Why? No one communicated who would take the ball. Question: Have you left your team of collaborators standing dumbfounded wondering why that little something (you name it) passed them by? You have to communicate consistently as a team and with your team.

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Key 3. Move and Work Together 
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Doubles is about teamwork. If you decide to partner up with someone or build a team you have to remember that you’re working and moving together. Here’s a funny tennis video of How Not to Treat your Partner. Some of the concepts are so hilarious because you see it all the time on the court. I’ll try to break each down quickly and simply to make it applicable to your work and life:

• Don’t take over. Have enough faith in the people you work with to allow them to play their role and do their job. Nothing’s worse than being on a team that won’t give you the opportunity to step up and shine.
• Do the work. Have you ever been a part of a team where someone’s not holding up their side of the bargain? It happens a lot and it’s frustrating. Make sure you create balanced teams where everyone is carrying their own weight.
• Don’t set your team up. On the court, this looks like a weak shot that puts your partner in a vulnerable position. Off the court, this happens when you fail to come through, put out shabby work or are not accountable. This can make the team extremely uncomfortable and less likely to want to collaborate in the future.
• Don’t Micromanage. It can be extremely frustrating for your team if you’re the individual that is always critiquing them, telling them what to do and how to do it. You have to give your teams the space to grow, develop, and problem solve.