If participating individuals have unequal status in the work environment, then particular attention needs to be paid to creating de facto equality in the collaborative activity. 5 Respect Finally, successful collaborations are built on a foundation of respect . Working together intensely won't necessarily lead to friendships, but collaborators must respect each other's talents. Notable collaborations bring together people with complementary skills and very different personalities. In moments of crisis, effective collaborators respect the skills of the experts in their midst and use those skills to maximum advantage.
Respect is fundamentally about the ability to build upon strengths and compensate for weaknesses.
As we approach the year 2000, effective collaborations will be the secret that will minimize the global impact of information systems problems. Need, Intimacy, Communication, Equality, and Respect. We are facing an immediate problem in preparing for the new millennium, but the need for collaborative activities in all aspects of our daily lives will continue indefinitely. The Futurist , October 1998. Back to the text 4 Bennis and Biederman, Organizing Genius , 203.