"Harvey, I need a word," Tom said, leaning against my office door frame with that look on his face. You know the one - not quite angry, but definitely not thrilled either.

I'd just spent three weeks working on a project brief that I was rather proud of. Countless late nights, meticulously researched data points, and what I thought was a brilliant strategy for our product launch. Yet here was my boss, clutching my masterpiece with what appeared to be barely concealed frustration.

"The work is good," he started, which in my experience is always followed by a 'but'. "But did you speak to anyone in sales before finalising this?"

I hadn't. In fact, I'd barely spoken to anyone. I'd been so focused on creating the perfect strategy document that I'd forgotten the fundamentals of what makes work actually work - collaboration.

"It's a great plan that nobody can execute," Tom continued. "The sales team is going to take one look at this and bin it. And then where will we be?"

Where indeed. My brilliant strategy was utterly useless without the buy-in from the people who would need to implement it. I'd made the classic mistake of confusing technical excellence with workplace effectiveness.

Which brings me to what I believe is the most valuable skill you'll never see listed as a qualification on LinkedIn: the ability to collaborate effectively.

The Invisible Force Behind Every Successful Career

We live in a world obsessed with certifications, qualifications, and technical prowess. And don't get me wrong, these things matter enormously. But they're merely your entry ticket to the game - not what determines whether you'll win it.

In my thirty-plus years working in various industries, I've witnessed the same pattern play out repeatedly: the technically brilliant who can't work with others eventually hit a ceiling, while those who combine competence with collaboration seem to rise effortlessly.

Here's the brutal truth about workplace success that nobody tells you in university:

1. Technical Skills Only Get You Through the Door 🚪

Your expertise might land you the job, but it won't guarantee your success once you're in. I've seen far too many technically brilliant people flame out because:

• They couldn't build allies across departments

• They made every project about showcasing their genius

• Their difficulty working with others eventually cancelled out their talent

Remember my moment with Tom? My technical ability to craft a strategy wasn't in question. My failure to collaborate rendered that ability practically worthless.

2. Collaboration is Your Hidden Multiplier 🔄

When teams are forming for important initiatives, do you know what happens behind closed doors? They don't just pick the most technically qualified person - they pick the person they believe will make the project successful. And that means:

• Can they work well with others?

• Will they share information freely?

• Can they navigate disagreement without creating drama?

This hidden selection process means that strong collaborators find themselves invited to more career-defining projects, creating a virtuous cycle of opportunity.

3. What "Easy To Work With" Actually Means 🎯

Being a good collaborator isn't about being a pushover. Far from it. It's about being someone who:

• Brings solutions rather than just problems

• Keeps the drama quotient at zero

• Values reliability over sporadic brilliance

• Understands that how something gets done is as important as what gets done

These qualities make you not only pleasant to be around but invaluable in complex organisations where coordination costs are high, and interdependence is the norm.

4. The Career Mathematics Are Undeniable ➗

The compounding effect of being a strong collaborator works like compound interest for your career:

• You get invited to more high-visibility projects

• Decision-makers feel comfortable championing you

• Promotion cycles accelerate naturally

• Your recommendation letters become far more persuasive

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this single attribute - your reputation as a collaborator - may be the highest-leverage skill in your entire professional arsenal.

Building Your Collaboration Muscles

So how do you strengthen this crucial skill? Here are four practical steps you can take immediately:

1. Ask before you conclude: Before finalising any significant piece of work, identify at least two stakeholders whose perspective would improve it - then actually speak to them.

2. Master the "pre-meeting": Important decisions rarely happen in the formal meeting. Learn to socialise your ideas privately with key stakeholders before the big meeting.

3. Become a dot connector: When someone shares a challenge, don't just sympathise - ask yourself, "Who do I know that could help with this?" and make the introduction.

4. Cultivate your curiosity: When someone disagrees with you, train yourself to get curious rather than defensive. Ask: "What do you see that I might be missing?"

Remember, your reputation isn't built on your best day or your most impressive achievement. It's built on your average Tuesday—how you consistently show up in everyday interactions that seem inconsequential ‘in the moment’ but compound over time.

As Tom reminded me years ago, the most brilliant strategy in the world fails without collaboration. It's a lesson I've never forgotten - and one that's served me far better than any certification ever could.

Which element of collaboration will you strengthen first?

Keep on rockin'!

Harvey

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