Prepare for collaboration

Collaboration Quotient (CQ).

The Collaboration Quotient (CQ) tool is a ready-reckoner that explores the aptitudes that are needed for successful open innovation. By comparing the CQ of an organisation and its people you can examine any differences and start to think about culture change or training programmes needed.

"No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Theodore Roosevelt


This tool is best used in workshops or in pairs in order to compare and discuss the Collaboration Quotient of each other and the organisation.

First mark where you fit on each of the six scales. Then repeat the exercise from the point of view of your organisation or team. Compare and contrast the results once you’ve done both!

Risk-taker: Good at discussing, understanding and taking appropriate risks.

+ If you’re more of a risk-taker than your organisation, try working out how you can help it to measure risk and balance that with opportunity.

– If you’re less of a risk-taker, how can your organisation support you to try new things?

Flexible: Willing to change if it suits your partner or fits new circumstances.

+ If you’re more flexible than your organisation, work out how it can be more responsive in specific circumstances that would aid collaboration.

– If you’re less flexible, how could your organisation help expand your boundaries?

Networked: Well-connected within your field and without.

+ If you’re the better networked than your organisation show it what benefits it could reap.

– If you’re less networked, work out a plan for building your personal networks on top of your organisation’s.

Receptive: Accepting of ideas from elsewhere.

+ If you’re more receptive than your organisation, actively demonstrate the benefits through open innovation case studies.

– If you’re less receptive, devote some of your time to the ideas of colleagues and entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurial: Energetic, partnership-minded and resilient.

+ If you are more entrepreneurial than your organisation, study its mission and business strategy and work out how you can help.

– If you’re less entrepreneurial, explore how you could take a stake in your work.

Empathetic: Good at listening and appreciating other points of view.

+ If you’re more empathetic than your organisation, seek out like-minds and encourage a change in culture.

– If you’re less empathetic, try asking for coaching or mentoring in order to develop those skills.

0442DOWNLOADS

HOW THIS TOOL FITS IN WITH OTHERS

Combine this with the Collaboration Styles Test to investigate personal styles and team dynamics in more depth.

Comments

Post a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.