You probably tried to finish the title of this blog post by saying, “… do it yourself.”

Besides, that’s the motto we all grew up saying.

Were you that kid who hated team projects because you knew you were going to be the one stuck doing the brunt of it all? I know I was. I trusted the wrong people to do their part of the assignment, and it blew up in my face on the due date.

Even in the workplace, I’ve dealt with employees—and bosses—who continuously dropped the ball on a major task. I know you have, too.

In a perfect world, it’d be okay to make the choice to take on all the responsibility for every task that’s handed your way to make sure it’s done to your liking.

But, guess what? That’s not possible (especially in this age of “doing more with less”).

There’s no way to get around the fact that you have to collaborate to succeed in your career. I know it’s hard to believe, but you don’t know it all; and you must tap into the knowledge of others to supplement your ignorance.

 “…learning to collaborate is part of equipping yourself for effectiveness, problem solving, innovation, and life-long learning in an ever-changing networked economy.” –Don Tapscott

So, you’re actually doing yourself a disservice by continuing your solo act.

The good really does outweigh the bad. Yes, you might have to deal with tough personalities, but it’s also an opportunity to better your “people management” skills.  The advantages of learning from others, networking, and expanding your thought process is invaluable.

Written by:
Hope Boyd
Director of Communications, Strategic Government Resources
governmentresource.com