Collaborators Win

By L Madhavan

"The author was able to show great display of influence in the Corporate world, where he trained employees from entry level to mid-sized level leaders. He had the unique ability in bringing the best out of each participant, as the training was inclusive.His trainings are practical, easy to practice day in day out, while the trained employees carry out their job. The critical interest is to “Transform them to transform the World” Readers will enjoy this book and it will make them better collaborators and make them more productive at workplace."

• Language: English
• Publisher: 16Leaves
• Release date: May 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9788119194025

Book preview

Collaborators’ Win

Collaborators’ Win

Sprint ahead with Team Spirit

L. Madhavan

(Maddy)

First Edition, 2023

Copyright © L. Madhavan, 2023

Cover design by: Visionary Graphics, Bangalore,

Mobile: [phone]

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.

This book can be exported from India only by the publishers or by the authorized suppliers. Infringement of this condition of sale will lead to Civil and Criminal prosecution.

Paperback ISBN: 978-81-19194-21-6

eBook ISBN: 978-81-19194-02-5

WebPDF ISBN: 978-81-19194-16-2

Note: Due care and diligence has been taken while editing and printing the book; neither the author nor the publishers of the book hold any responsibility for any mistake that may have inadvertently crept in.

The publishers shall not be liable for any direct, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use of the book. In case of binding mistakes, misprints, missing pages, etc., the publishers’ entire liability, and your exclusive remedy, is replacement of the book within one month of purchase by similar edition/reprint of the book.

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Call: 91-9940638999

My mother L Kalyani I had written this book with great interest in addressing Collaboration related points and by Collaborating you WIN. This was possible with the blessings of my great mother Smt. L Kalyani. She instilled life lessons in me, which have helped me move forward successfully in life. She passed away last year on 3rd December 2022. I would like to dedicate this to my mother.

My father-in-law K S Venugopal He was never a father-in-law to me, but always like a father to me. When I married his daughter in April 1994, my own father was no more, having passed away in 1991. My father-in-law was a great personality —humble, calm and a gentleman to the core. He passed away on 29th April 2022. This book is also dedicated to him.

Acknowledgements

A person is blessed not with wealth he possesses but by the quality of friends and relatives he has. I am blessed to be surrounded by quality people.

My deepest gratitude to my late parents, Kalyani, and Lakshmi Narasimhan. Amma trained me in every aspect throughout my life. Her patience and keen interest in my development were invaluable lessons for me. She was my greatest blessing.

My wife has stood rock solid behind me in everything I do. Her encouragement and clarity have been priceless. Thank you.

My adorable bundle of energy, my daughter. Every bit of what I am today is thanks to her constant motivation.

My son-in-law has been my guiding hand in the last 3 years.

Special gratitude to the ever supporting duo, my daughter’s Father-in-law & Mother-in-law.

To my sister and brother-in-law, their affection, faith and support has kept me going.

To my brother and his wife, their energy and vision have been my driving force.

My sister’s two daughters, their husbands, the cute little wonder of our family —our grand daughter and son of my brother and his wife.

Thanks, and appreciation to all my first and second cousins. My mother’s side brothers and sisters, my father’s brother, his family members, all other relatives and friends.

My ex-colleagues and current colleagues of the 7 different companies I have worked with from 1984 till 2020.

This book is the result of the encouragement of all these and so many more people. Thanks to all of you.

Contents

Chapter 1: Why Should We Collaborate?

Chapter 2: What Is Collaboration?

Chapter 3: How Do We Collaborate?

Chapter 4: Benefits of Collaboration

Chapter 5: Lack of Collaboration

Chapter 6: Communication Styles

Chapter 7: Individual Behaviors

Chapter 8: Meeting Roadblocks and Challenges when We Collaborate

Chapter 9: Cross Functional Collaboration

Chapter 10: It Is All in Your Mind to Collaborate

Chapter 11: Collaboration Criticality

Chapter 12: Summary

Preface

It is my absolute delight in writing this book with the title Collaborators’ Win . At every stage of my life, right from my childhood, I had seen so many difficulties arising out of lack of understanding among people who need to work together. I used to ask myself this question,

Is it that difficult to work together?

As I ask myself, Is it that difficult to work together?, I observe squabbles among family members, both externally and within the families. It is a big challenge for multiple minds to think as one. I started analyzing this phenomenon, which never had allegiance to any religion, community or caste, but was only a state of individualistic views that needed to be heard.

In this book, I’ll try my best to gather the multiple aspects where collaboration could be useful. It is understood how collaboration can support positive outcome. It is my honest endeavor to address collaboration covering the multiple angles of outlook.

I thank each and every buyer and reader of this book for encouraging me throughout my endeavor. Best Wishes.

L. Madhavan (Maddy)

CHAPTER 1

WHY SHOULD WE COLLABORATE?

IN THE OFFICE AND AT HOME

The first ever opportunity I got into the corporate 38 years back, it was accidental and more towards satisfying certain need at that time, on the personal front. I had no idea of corporate life, as my father was a Central Government employee, neither my uncles or cousins or relatives had corporate exposure. Here, when I mention corporate, it is purely private.

I got an interview call from the company where my brother was working, through his credentials, as a wonderful contributor in their accounts department, he had won the hearts of his colleagues. This is the beginning of the process of understanding how things work in organizations as you hear, understand, experience it and of course correlate all these.

My brother came early from office purely to communicate to me and the family that this opportunity exists and, in all likelihood, I should get it. Now the collaboration starts, with me and my father scouting for a photo studio to take the passport size photo, which is mandatory for any application that we fill.

One big thing we all have to remember is, I am talking about these happenings 39 years back. Those days photo studio used to take three full days minimum, to process photos, and that too if the studio was a renowned one.

Each film roll had to be completed to the capacity of 36 pictures, if I recollect it correctly, taken those to the back room on completion of the roll. Then those were printed and dried before we received a proper photo what could satisfy us as our picture.

My father and I treaded a few kilometers, scouting for the photo- studio-person who could accept our request of delivering the photos the next day before 11 am.

After enough search we had one photo-studio-person who was willing to talk to us, with a bargain that he would charge us double the actual amount from the usual and normal delivery of three days of sorts.

My father and I sighed a bit of relief and did not brood over the double payment and willingly accepted it, as I wanted to get moving to meet our goal of attending the interview next day at 3 pm.

I had captured a clear picture of the events. Look how many people are involved in collaborating here:

a) Company personnel

b) My brother

c) My father

d) My mother

e) My sister

f) Self

g) Photo-studio person.

The happy news was, I got the photo next day around 11.45 am, quickly moved into my house to get things ready for me to attend the interview at 3 pm.

All ends well that starts well! I cleared the interview, got almost the assurance that I would be