Soft Skills: Collaborate Effectively from edX

Collaboration means so much more than simply working together, it goes beyond that and this course teaches you how. Through collaboration, you can achieve so much more than you could if you had worked alone. Some of the essential skills taught in this course include: being able to effectively communicate with the people you work with, being a team-player, as well as working as a team towards a shared goal.

In today’s day and age and in the modern workspace, group collaboration is not limited to just the workplace. Collaboration is no longer just in-person, as collaboration is done virtually now all the time! This course will teach you how to collaborate both virtually and in-person.

This short course not only teaches you about some of the drawbacks and obstacles of different styles of communication, it also teaches you how to recognize and apply proper and different methods of communication. You will learn to overcome obstacles that you may face when collaborating and strive for professional success.

Effective collaboration requires the involvement of diverse individuals and teamwork. When working with others you need to be able to read their body language and understand their behaviors. In this course you will learn how to do this and work successfully together.

By the end of this self-paced, short course, you will have developed the skills you need to collaborate with a team, others in your company, business partners, and clients.

This course is part of the People and Power Skills Professional Certificate from IBM, that consists of a series of short courses to help you develop essential soft skills for success in the workplace.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Identify different collaborative barriers as well as the specific behaviors that enhance or get in the way of collaboration
Go through the four stages of team development using different collaborative techniques

Improve teamwork and collaboration in your professional environment
Effectively lead and participate in virtual meetings, an increasingly popular form of collaboration

Identify different collaborative barriers as well as the specific behaviors that enhance or get in the way of collaboration
Go through the four stages of team development using different collaborative techniques
Improve teamwork and collaboration in your professional environment
Effectively lead and participate in virtual meetings, an increasingly popular form of collaboration

Syllabus

The course is composed of the following lessons:

- Collaborate Effectively: an Overview

- About the Course

- What is collaboration and why is it so important?

- How can you enhance your collaboration with colleagues?

- How can you help your team collaborate?

- What are the challenges of virtual collaboration and how can you tackle them?

- What tools can you use for virtual collaboration?

- How can you make virtual meetings effective?

- Course-end Assessment

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in professional teamwork, an in-demand skill for students and early-career professionals

Covers body language and behaviors, which are often not discussed in standard collaboration training

Teaches how to collaborate virtually, which is an essential skill for remote workers and online learners

Includes an end-of-course assessment to help learners evaluate their understanding

Provides insights into the challenges of collaboration, which can help learners navigate these challenges effectively

Introduces a four-stage model of team development, which can help learners understand the different phases of team collaboration

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Soft Skills: Collaborate Effectively with these activities:

Find a Mentor Who Can Help You Develop Your Collaboration Skills

Show steps

A mentor can provide you with guidance and support as you develop your collaboration skills.

Show steps

Identify the specific skills that you want to develop.
Research potential mentors who have experience in these skills.
Contact your potential mentors and ask if they would be willing to provide you with guidance.

Practice Your Body Language Skills

Show steps

Nonverbal communication is an important part of collaboration. There are many resources available online that can help you practice your body language skills.

Browse courses on Body Language

Show steps

Find a mirror and practice making eye contact.
Record yourself having a conversation and watch it back to see how you are using your body language.

Compile a Resource List

Show steps

This will help you to stay organized and have all of the resources that you need at your fingertips.

Show steps

Create a folder on your computer to store all of your course materials.
Bookmark all of the websites and articles that you find helpful.
Make a list of all of the books that you read for the course.

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Review 'Collaboration Skills for the Modern Workplace' by Skills Network

Show steps

This book provides a comprehensive overview of what collaboration is all about as well as how to develop these skills.

View Melania on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes.
Summarize the key points of each chapter.
Create a plan for applying the concepts in your own work.

Practice Active Listening

Show steps

Active listening is a key skill for effective collaboration. There are many online and offline exercises that can help you practice.

Show steps

Find a partner and take turns speaking and listening.
Focus on what the other person is saying and try to understand their perspective.

Develop a Concept Map

Show steps

This will help to enhance your understanding of different collaboration styles and the challenges of virtual collaboration.

Show steps

Identify the main concepts in the course.
Create a visual representation of the relationships between these concepts.

Learn How to Collaborate Effectively in a Remote Team

Show steps

There are many resources available online that can introduce you to the basics of remote collaboration software and tools.

Show steps

Attend a webinar on remote collaboration.
Watch a tutorial on how to use specific remote collaboration tools.

Join a Collaboration Skills Group

Show steps

Peer support can be helpful in learning new skills, finding resources, and staying motivated.

Show steps

Find a group of colleagues or classmates who are also interested in developing their collaboration skills.
Meet regularly to discuss your progress and challenges.

Develop a Collaboration Plan

Show steps

This will help you to identify the specific skills and strategies that you need to develop in order to collaborate effectively.

Show steps

Identify the specific goals that you want to achieve through collaboration.
Research different collaboration techniques and tools.
Develop a plan that outlines how you will use these techniques and tools to achieve your goals.

Career center

Learners who complete Soft Skills: Collaborate Effectively will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. Courses in effective collaboration can help Project Managers build the skills necessary to lead and participate in effective virtual meetings, which is essential for managing remote teams and stakeholders. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Project Managers due to its focus on the challenges of virtual collaboration and how to tackle them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Communications Manager

Communications Managers plan and execute communication strategies for organizations. They ensure that an organization's messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with its goals. Courses in effective collaboration can help Communications Managers build the skills necessary to lead and participate in effective virtual meetings, an essential skill in today's business world. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Communications Managers due to its focus on the challenges of virtual collaboration and how to tackle them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns for organizations. They oversee all aspects of marketing, from market research to advertising and public relations. Courses in effective collaboration can help Marketing Managers build the skills necessary to lead and participate in effective virtual meetings, an essential skill in today's business world. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Marketing Managers due to its focus on the challenges of virtual collaboration and how to tackle them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers are responsible for the satisfaction and retention of an organization's customers. They work with customers to ensure they are successful in using the organization's products or services. Courses in effective collaboration can help Customer Success Managers build the skills necessary to lead and participate in effective virtual meetings, which is becoming increasingly important in today's business environment. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Customer Success Managers due to its focus on the challenges of virtual collaboration and how to tackle them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics. They help organizations solve problems, improve efficiency, and achieve their goals. Courses in effective collaboration can help Consultants build the skills necessary to work effectively with a variety of clients and stakeholders. This course, in particular, dives into recognizing and applying different methods of communication, which is helpful for Consultants who must adapt their communication style to suit many different clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Client Services Manager

Client Services Managers are responsible for the satisfaction and retention of an organization's clients. They ensure clients receive quality service and resolve any issues that may arise. Courses in effective collaboration can help Client Services Managers develop stronger relationships with clients and build effective teams that work well together to support customers. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Client Services Managers due to its emphasis on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Client Services Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve revenue targets. They develop and implement sales strategies, and work with customers to close deals. Courses in effective collaboration can help Sales Managers build the skills necessary to create and maintain a positive and productive team environment. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Sales Managers due to its focus on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products and services. They work with cross-functional teams to ensure that products meet customer needs and market demand. Courses in effective collaboration can help Product Managers build the skills necessary to work with diverse individuals and teams. This course, in particular, dives into team development and how to enhance collaboration, which can be crucial for Product Managers leading a team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers plan and implement training programs for employees. They work with managers and employees to identify training needs and develop and deliver training programs. Courses in effective collaboration can help Training and Development Managers build the skills necessary to create and maintain a positive and productive learning environment. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Training and Development Managers due to its focus on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager

Team Leader

Team Leaders lead and motivate teams to achieve goals. They assign tasks, provide feedback, and resolve conflicts. Courses in effective collaboration can help Team Leaders build the skills necessary to create and maintain a positive and productive team environment. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Team Leaders due to its focus on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources department of an organization. They oversee employee recruitment, training, and development, as well as employee relations and benefits. Courses in effective collaboration can help Human Resources Managers build the skills necessary to create and maintain a positive and productive work environment. This course, in particular, may be especially helpful for Human Resources Managers due to its focus on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze a company's needs and identify opportunities to improve efficiency. They design and implement better ways for companies to work, leading to more effectiveness and profit. Courses in effective collaboration can help Business Analysts build a solid foundation of collaborative skills, equipping them to work with stakeholders from different departments and perspectives. This course, in particular, focuses on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration, which can be critical for Business Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers develop and execute social media strategies for organizations. They create and manage content, and engage with customers on social media platforms. Courses in effective collaboration may be useful for Social Media Managers, as they can help build the communication skills necessary to effectively engage with customers on social media. This course, in particular, focuses on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration, which can be useful for Social Media Managers who must frequently collaborate with other teams within an organization to create effective social media campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain documentation for technical products and services. They work with engineers, developers, and other experts to ensure that documentation is accurate, clear, and easy to understand. Courses in effective collaboration may be useful for Technical Writers, as they can help build the communication skills necessary to effectively convey complex technical information to a variety of audiences. This course, in particular, focuses on identifying and overcoming obstacles to successful collaboration, which can be useful for Technical Writers who must frequently collaborate with subject-matter experts to gather information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Account Manager

Account Managers maintain relationships with existing clients and pursue new ones. They build trust with prospects and guide them through an organization's sales pipeline, nurturing relationships throughout the sales cycle. Courses in effective collaboration can help build the relationship-building and communication skills necessary for Account Managers to succeed. This course, in particular, dives into communicating with colleagues and others within your company, which could be particularly useful for Account Managers, who must liaise between several departments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Account Manager