Smarter Collaboration

A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work

By: Heidi K. Gardner, Ivan A. Matviak

Narrated by: Melissa Redmond

Market volatility. Sustainability demands. Hybrid working. Opportunities and hazards of fast-changing technology and regulations. Companies and nonprofits face more daunting challenges than ever. How can we collaborate in our organizations—and with outside partners—to solve problems, innovate, and succeed?

This indispensable new book lays out a pragmatic action plan blending rich stories, new empirical research, and loads of practical advice to help companies thrive by collaborating more effectively. As Heidi K. Gardner and Ivan A. Matviak show, firms that collaborate smarter consistently generate higher revenues and profits, boost innovation, strengthen client relationships, and attract and retain better talent. In this successor to Gardner's bestselling first book, Smart Collaboration, the authors expand their mandate, illustrating the fundamental dynamics of collaborating well across industries like financial services, health care, biotech/pharma, consumer products, automotive, and technology.

Based on their research with thousands of executives from around the world, they share deep insights on how to implement smarter collaboration and avoid the potential pitfalls. They also help leaders troubleshoot thorny challenges like misaligned incentives, collaboration overload, and unintended consequences on diversity and inclusion.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Heidi K. Gardner and Ivan A. Matviak (P)2022 Ascent Audio

Lacks practical solutions

When I initially read the description for this book, I thought it would address specifically how to do smarter collaboration in the trenches of day-to-day working inside of complex projects and managing different team dynamics and personalities.

Instead this book seems to be positioned for HR professionals and executives who are trying to determine if they need to incorporate collaboration workshops as part of diversity initiatives.

Even within the topic of diversity, there are no specifics as to how do you handle discrimination in the workplace.

Because everything in the book is so high-level, it seems like an extended business pitch for their workshops where the juicy details and the how to do it is revealed.

This book lacks any kind of practical advice for how to manage team conflicts, managing one’s ego, or how to make collaboration more effective and efficient.

Collaboration can often feel like a waste of time because so little gets done, and this book introduces no solutions for that other than identifying the problem, as a problem.

Despite the glowing reviews, I don’t recommend this book at all.