Lesson 6. Collaboration is Best Learned Through Experience
After establishing a sense of shared purpose, there are two ways
to foster collaboration. Some groups focus on relationship building
and process by studying and planning together. The IRDC has a bias
for action. We prefer to learn collaboration by doing it on projects of
increasing importance and complexity. The sense of team accom-
plishment is the biggest reward for working together. Experiencing
the difficulties of teamwork reinforces the learning.
Believing that the best way to learn collaboration is to begin, the
IRDC is leaving a series of completed tasks in its wake. We have also
left some failures. Our Americorps application failed as a project,
even though it succeeded as a collaboration, because it created a
functioning team that overcame several obstacles.
One could argue that some of our activities were not the most stra-
tegic to our mission or to our seven challenge areas of isolation, com-
munity leadership, restructuring the economy, natural resource uti-
lization, infrastructure, education and health care. However, we
have had projects that allowed players in each of these areas to
come together and learn about one another while getting something
done. We have discovered and filled several gaps in rural service
delivery in the process.
Lesson 7. Different Perspectives Enrich a Collaboration
The IRDC experience has shown that different perspectives do en-
rich a collaboration. The cliché is true. We each have different skill
sets, different life experiences, and different perspectives to offer a
collaboration. The sum is greater than the parts, and no one person
is responsible for success or failure. A diverse team may redefine a
problem. For instance, an Hispanic representative of a development
finance work group made a convincing argument that making cul-
turally-appropriate technical assistance available could tap the eco-
nomic growth potential of an often-overlooked segment of the com-
munity. Creative solutions often result from collaboration. In one
training session, rural arts council staff helped community leaders
draw pictures to learn about shared values.
Lesson 8. A Little Grease Helps Collaborative Wheels Turn
State rural development councils have small amounts of discre-
tionary funds that can be used to increase the capacity of the Coun-
cil. Idaho’s experience has been that contributing very small
amounts to encourage a collaboration can jump-start what becomes
a substantial effort. The first commitment of resources makes the
possibilities for success seem real. In addition, it helps legitimize the
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