There are many examples of silos in organizations and social boundaries that have systems and boundaries that tend to remain insular. As a mediation and negotiation specialist who helps others overcome conflicts and break down boundaries, I want to share insights to help you become more collaborative and address boundaries. We see examples every day: cities, counties, and the federal governments; departments at work; vaccine inoculations and various populations; within federal agencies like the IRS with examination and collection; safe bike routes and traffic engineers; and others. So, given the many systems and social boundaries, how is it possible for parties to overcome this inertia and develop better outcomes?
Define the boundary and expand your network.
The first question is whether you have enough information to determine where the boundary or the blockage is that prevents crossing that border. Those on any one side tend to listen to their members within their organization versus someone from outside of their organization. A friend of mine who is a professional speaker on leadership in academic settings has shared with me that he speaks to students, staff, academics, and the administration as four distinct groups. Each has its social system and tends to stay within its group. This would tend not to include the needs and concerns of other groups unless an effort is made for various members to reach across boundaries and engage with others in the other group. Each group can identify who belongs and those outside their group. What about individual members' religion, sex, education, interests, geographic experiences, pets, family, and friends? You may never know a rich world of information without additional exploration.
Knowing what you don’t know, how can you expand your network?
Who will you contact, and how do you gain additional insight? Speaking with students recently about alternative dispute resolution in a roundtable setup, I met 22 first-year law students with diverse backgrounds in an hour, and they learned something about mediation and alternative dispute resolution. How did this make me feel? Seeing so many bright, enthusiastic students eager to learn and network with me and about 20 other groups to expand their horizons gave me a warm feeling. Whether interacting with others for simply a few minutes with each other or in a small group, meeting over social media, having a cup of coffee or lunch, or doing an activity together, these will expand your network and broaden your perspective. Relationships matter, and growing your network is one of the best ways to expand your network.
Respect for everyone
In the academic example presented above, it is necessary to respect everyone’s knowledge. At a university, the academics may be perceived as what makes the institution run. They require support for facilities, offices, parking, food, safety, funding, and students. Without recruitment, policy support, departments, an administration that cares, and facilities support, they could not function. It behooves every level to reach out to others and across departments to address various concerns and to respect the knowledge and experience of everyone involved. Who else can you tap into? Do you respect everyone regardless of their level in the organization? Do you reach across departments, divisions, or other groups outside your circle? Those designations, credentials, and titles generally consider themselves a group with a special place in the hierarchy. With that power, how openly are they willing to share this with others, help others, and reach out to others to bridge those inferential power dynamics?
How humble are you?
You have a culture, a social system, and some set of priorities that define who your group is. Does your group routinely recognize this culture and reach out to others to expand your knowledge and insight? Understand your priorities and values. What does this mean to you individually, in your organization, in your industry, and in the community where you work? What is your mission? How does it fit in? How do you communicate to let others know you accept them? What do you know about them? How do you communicate with them and demonstrate your values, concerns, empathy, openness, and caring with them?
Take advantage of the collaboration effect
The collaboration effect is all about developing authentic relationships, connecting with others, respecting others, and communicating openly, honestly, and with integrity. Listening actively to understand where others are and where they are coming from. Take the time to ask open-ended questions to gain insight. Empathize with them about their concerns. Demonstrate that you truly care. Overcoming social boundaries or barriers takes effort.
How can you not simply serve but partner with others?
You learn from them, and they learn from you. Start small, reach out, and demonstrate an interest in learning more. Not every interaction will result in a breakthrough. Still, you never know when some small gesture of kindness or consideration may lead to a beautiful relationship.
In business valuation, younger new members of the firm want to go along on client visits, experience more than their specific tasks, be included in social get-togethers, be part of the team, and see more broadly than their role. Reaching out generationally, geographically, knowledge base, across social systems, and expanding networks breaks down barriers and enhances collaboration. As a result, employees feel more like they are a part of the organization, business results may be improved, and clients and customers will feel the energy and want to be part of the future with you. You will have learned about other social systems. You will expand your network. You never know where this may lead. This may take you to places you never knew you were going. Reach outside of your silo and social boundaries, and you may be surprised by what you may find.
Check out these links to my publications if you would like to learn more about collaboration, conflict resolution, or enhancing your servant manager skills.