People are natural social beings and as such naturally engage and connect with others. Everyone wants to be part of a group or community to express themselves, help solve a problem or see a shared goal achieved. Many times, regional collaborations naturally come together when attempting to resolve common problems or immediate challenges affecting a region. Other times you may have to reach out to start the conversation.
There are several types of collaboration, and they can occur in a number of settings. It may be structured as internal collaboration amongst co-workers in one, or several departments, of a company. It may be external and include various people – some who have similar backgrounds in a specific industry or come from diverse backgrounds, with different skills, which have all come together for a specific outcome. Community Futures West Yellowhead (CFWY) uses all these styles and interactions, with a focus on facilitating regional collaboration. We work with and collaborate with our member municipalities chambers of commerce, nonprofits, and small business communities.
Regional collaboration typically refers to a geographical region in which members strengthen common interests through activities, communication, and cooperation. The trend towards regional thinking and collaboration is increasing as issues become more complex, funding for projects is inadequate, and capacity and resources are limited within one organization. It is not usually a one-time quick fix, but rather a high-quality solution to combat a problem. Sharing ideas and brainstorming help develop unique or out of the box solutions.
Facilitating conversations across our communities may not always be easy. Sometimes the issues may be difficult to tackle, understand or have many complexities. The efficiency of regional collaboration lies, in part, on those that surround the table. Having people with diverse skills, varied expertise, and ensuring that all voices are heard, allows equity, excellent discussions, and improved outcomes. There may not always be agreement as each person sees a challenge from a different angle or perspective. However, it is the shared goal that is focused on. When people have the ability to come together to define and contribute to the goals, they are more satisfied, more productive, and feel more connected. They have a better understanding of learning opportunities, and roles and skills of other people in the working group.
Regional collaborations will vary in the way they look and operate based on the project at hand. It may take time to create a collaborative team and may at times seem slow going with few resources to be had. However, I encourage you to keep going and invite and welcome all the diversities you can. The potential outcomes and efforts are worth it in the end!
To discuss collaboration opportunities call 780-865-1224 or visit our website to see our regional collaboration projects.
