Is collaboration an act of betrayal?

For some product managers, collaboration can be the source of inspiration and ideation, where teams work harmoniously to deliver company goals, on time and on budget. But for others, it invokes images of Satan’s babies. It’s no wonder this simple word can provoke such extremes when one considers the actual meaning of the word.

Kittens, Puppies & Other Fluffy Stuff.

Collaboration typically means “the act of working together”. Nice. Simple. Easy. For product managers, this means things like “rational discussions with key stakeholders about product objectives, strategies and the like ”.

War, Blood and Miscellaneous Body Parts.

Now we turn to the alternate meaning of the word: “to betray one’s country by cooperating with an enemy”. Harsh. This is a pretty serious crime. We’re talking treachery. We’re talking accomplices. We’re talking reprimand. And heads will roll. For product managers, this means things like “heated arguments resulting in red faces and walkouts”.

Considering the dual meaning, is collaboration doomed from the outset? If collaboration is the cornerstone of product management, what does this mean for product managers? How do you balance “working together” with “acts of treason”?

As a product manager, chief negotiator and ally to all, it’s important to know some tactics to prevent an all out war.

Here’s my strategy for collaboration:

1. No secrets, no spies, no lies. Allow everyone to share their perspective and maintain clear communication paths to build trust and prevent betrayal.
2. Find some neutral territory. This not only refers to things like product features, approaches and techniques, but also to the location of the discussion.
3. Know what you’re aiming to achieve. Identify the end result and know what the collaboration is aiming to achieve before discussions start.
4. Have a process for conflict resolution. Be clear from the outset regarding issues like who has the final say when there’s a dead-lock?
5. Look out for bad apples. Not everyone is cut out for collaboration, so learn to recognise the signs of an apple going bad, and try to address any issues early on (I recommend lemon, salt or vodka for neutralising the bad apple).

So, how do you prevent an all out war?

Interested in catching up with other product managers? Join Product Maven’s on 2-June, from 8.30am at Cook & Archies in Surry Hills. RSVP here.