Collaboration: Working Together
by Amy Kowalski, Program Assistant, NEEAPThe Environmental Education Advocate - Spring 1998
The following information is provided to you as a service of the National
Environmental Education Advancement Project (NEEAP). We encourage you to use it and
please credit the National Environmental Education
Advancement Project where appropriate.
Individuals who successfully work in concert with those from other
organizations will achieve higher quality results (Gray, 1989). Surveys conducted by
NEEAP corroborate this claim. Eight of nine EE 2000 states in 1996 reported
successful and quality linkages and contacts through the collaboration process.
These partnerships varied greatly, but were consistent in their makeup of members
involving government agencies, business and industry, teachers and administrators, and
education reform specialists (Kirk, 1997). This effective research shows that
collaboration is key to the success and sustainability of EE programs.
Three important components of collaboration are: Purpose, Communication,
and Resources.
Purpose: This may seem obvious, but many collaborations are entered
into without an explicit agreement of purpose. This can be developed through a
strategic planning process including discussions of vision, goals, objectives and tasks
that can be justified by all members of your group and applied to your target
audience. Try to avoid the common pitfall of overestimating how much you can
accomplish within your group's time-frame. A detailed timeline, that all adhere to,
will help to avoid this potential issue.
Communication: Good internal organizational communication begins with
a clear definition of procedure. In addition to procedural steps, active listening,
or understanding and being involved in the ideas of other team members, is extremely
important. The roles of members and involved organizations must be spelled out
distinctly for your purpose to be efficiently executed. One high school senior who
attended a Leadership Clinic provided his perspective by stating collaboration involves
"seeking first to understand before being understood, and identifying what different
groups and individuals specifically want and need, and how you can help them achieve their
goals while also pursuing yours."
Resources: Strong leaders are an important resource to maintain an
effective collaborative effort. Your group should unanimously "elect" an
individual or a small assembly to keep your common vision in sight and on track. It
is important that this individual(s) encourages shared decision making and brings your
group back to its main purpose and timeline as necessary. It is also important to be
aware of opportunities for funding and other resources. Businesses with shared
interests can provide much more than financial resources such as expertise and help with
positive publicity. Media coverage of your team's efforts can be to your advantage
if you carefully prepare what you want target audiences or the general public to
understand about your collaborative efforts. Provide reporters and editors with
positive examples, in the form of prepared statements and articles backing your efforts
and how EE is addressing various needs in your state.
Having a detailed purpose, excellent communication skills among members, and
dependable resources will give your EE collaborative a successful edge.
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