Collaboration

We often desire the results that collaboration brings to our initiatives. Plurality of perspectives, streamlined services, and mutual support are a few examples of the many possible rewards. But making collaborations work takes time, thought, skill, and learning to work in new ways, with new people.

• Don't miss tools
• Publications and research
• Online communities for information and support

Don't Miss Tools

• Community Tool Box
  http://ctb.ku.edu/
  Over 6,000 pages of practical skill-building information on over 250 different topics including step-by-step instruction, examples, checklists, and related resources. Sample topics on collaboration include:

  • Developing Multisector Collaborations
  • Collaborative Leadership

• Community Partnership Toolkit
  http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/CustomPubs/CPtoolkit/CPToolkit/
  Provides information for building and maintaining partnerships to strengthen communities, including how to pick the right tools, sharpen them, and learn to master them.

• The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory
  http://www.wilder.org/pubs/inventory/collaboration.html
  This site can be used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a new or ongoing collaborative initiative and to plan for increase effectiveness in the future.

• Leader to Leader Institute
  http://www.leadertoleader.org/collaboration/index.html
  The “Meeting the Collaboration Challenge” section of this site provides resources and publications for making collaboration work.

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Publications and Research

• Can this Collaboration be Saved? Twenty factors that can make or break any group effort
  http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/129/savecollab.html
  Lessons from a study of hundreds of successful and less-successful collaborative efforts to pinpoint the 20 factors that “make or break” the collaborative experience.

• Collaboration Resource List
  http://www.wilder.org/pubs/collab_bibliography/collaboration_bibliography.htm
  An annotated bibliography of resources on collaboration. An excellent resource to view some of the leading literature available.

• Coalition Building Tip Sheets
  http://www.compartners.org/content/category/6/82/35/
  A collection of tip sheets that break down the many processes and challenges to working in collaborative initiatives and how to achieve success in collaboration and coalition building.

• Tom Wolff and Associates Collaborative Solutions Newsletter
  http://www.tomwolff.com
  Read this online newsletter with tips and resources for starting a new collaborative or strengthening an existing one.

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Online Communities for Information and Support

• Collaborative Communities
  http://www.collaborativecommunities.org
  Sign-up for an e-mail newsletter that provides resources, funding, and research on effective collaborative efforts.

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As always, we would like to hear from you! Contact us with comments.