mission
Our mission is to center collaboration and humanity to enhance positive impacts by amplifying essential building blocks that make great collaborations possible.
Why collaboration?
One of today's major challenges in fostering positive social change is the polarization that impedes collaboration. Despite this obstacle, successful collaborations occur regularly in our daily lives. The question arises: How can we seamlessly navigate activities like grocery shopping, planning birthday parties, or hosting holiday dinners with a diverse group of people, and yet face challenges when it comes to intentional collaborations?
IIonC believes that we can bridge this gap by drawing lessons from our everyday successful collaborations. When elements (5 building blocks) work harmoniously, they contribute to creating a better environment for everyone to live and thrive. Collaboration, at its core, is integral to our human experience and underlies how we function in various aspects of our lives.
Who are we?
The International Institute on Collaboration (IIonC) centers collaboration and humanity to bridge individuals, organizations, and communities to create a future where everyone benefits. When people focus on a common objective, the path to those results become common ground. Having clear and purposeful common ground creates space for everyone to examine who they are, build trust, show up as whole-selves, become more equitable, and exterminate unhealthy competition. IIonC uses an assessment that grounds leaders where they align with the five building blocks of collaboration. We use a simple framework and developed curriculum alongside further development of transformational leadership, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills to train and coach individuals and organizations how to design, lead, complete, and celebrate all collaborations.
Our Structure
There are two ways individuals and clients can work with us. The first is to become a member. Membership is good for one year. Benefits are determined by the membership package.
The second possibility is to contract services as needed. This can include just having us administer the assessment, hire coaches, an interim Chief Collaboration Officer, or bring our curriculum to your organization.
The building blocks of collaboration
The International Institute on Collaboration believes that five skill sets and learned behaviors work together as the building blocks of collaboration.
Transformational Leadership
We've all encountered or witnessed great leaders—those who genuinely support, empower (in a tangible way), celebrate achievements, and bring about transformation. Collaboration, at its core, is a transformative process. When we experience genuine trust and a sense of completeness while working with a leader, that sentiment is reciprocated by the leader themselves. Developing our leadership skills becomes imperative to catalyze transformations within spaces, individuals, missions, and all the intricate elements of our collaborative endeavors. This building block is agile, heartfelt, and profound, ensuring that the heart, energy, and passion remain intrinsic to the work at hand.
conflict resolution
The essence of conflict resolution is embedded in all aspects of our collaborative efforts. Moments of conflict and friction can emerge swiftly, requiring collaborative leaders to adeptly address them.
Continuous effort in developing tools to enhance conflict resolution skills is not merely suggested but imperative, as these skills are essential in virtually every collaborative scenario. Instead of viewing conflict as a hindrance, these skills empower us to perceive conflicts as opportunities to improve collaborations. They enable us to transform moments of tension into catalysts for enhancing the collaborative process.
facilitation
Possessing leadership and conflict resolution skills is valuable, but without the ability to facilitate conversations and navigate diverse learning and communication styles within a collaborative setting, success becomes elusive. Much like the reflexive nature of conflict resolution skills, the skill of facilitation is indispensable for addressing moments when a collaborative team encounters obstacles.
Facilitation need not be an elaborate production; sometimes, it's as straightforward as asking clarifying questions or introducing an activity that aligns minds with the team's objectives. This building block propels the collaboration forward, ensuring that teams can overcome challenges and find a constructive path even when faced with moments of stagnation.
Awareness of self
Engaging in collaboration demands self-awareness, requiring us to understand our own identities and how we present ourselves within a collaborative environment. It doesn't necessitate having everything figured out; instead, it involves recognizing our strengths, accessing various skill sets, and maintaining humility and grace when mistakes occur. Crucially, we must be capable of introspection, asking, "What does this reflection reveal about me?" when faced with uncomfortable feedback.
Every collaboration becomes an opportunity for personal growth, provided we embrace these reflective moments. This building block not only fosters our individual development but also serves as inspiration for the brilliance in others to shine. By navigating these self-awareness dynamics, we not only enhance the impact within the current collaboration but also contribute to the success of future collaborative endeavors.
awareness
of self
friendliness to collaboraiton
Openness is a prerequisite for effective collaboration. Occasionally, when sharing details about our collaborative experiences, negative feelings may arise. Paradoxically, these feelings serve as openings for growth and opportunity. Each new collaboration presents distinct chances for impact, personal development, problem-solving, and overall human improvement.
Collaborations aren't confined to those explicitly labeled as such; they permeate our daily lives in activities like dinners, parties, sports, and entertainment. This building block urges us to approach all collaborations with curiosity, including the challenging and intentional ones. By embracing this perspective, we unlock the potential for continuous learning, fostering growth and positive transformation in both ourselves and the collaborative endeavors we undertake.
Our collaborative team
Executive Director
Gregg Potter
Support Staff
Watch this space. We’ll announce the entire team on our full launch.
circle of coaches and facilitators
Watch this space. We’ll announce the entire circle of coaches on our full launch.
Board of advisors
Watch this space. We’ll announce the entire Board of Advisors on our full launch.
Our collaborative organizations
Watch this space.
IIonC is able accept charitable contributions for project work and general support through a fiscal sponsor.
International Institute on Collaboration (IIonC) is a DBA of the purpose-driven LLC, Project Kinect.