After watching the season premiere of Keeping up with the Kardashians (KUWTK), I was intrigued by the communication styles between Kourtney, Khloe and Kim and the impact it had on their lives. Whether playing a practical joke on their mother or organizing an event, plans were only successfully carried out when all women were empathetic and engaged with each other. For instance, a failure to articulate the importance of ‘game night’ led to the absence of several family members – a tragedy in the life of a Kardashian.

Not only does a lack of communication lead to inefficient use ofpeople’s time, it also can foster resentment, demonstrated when the Kardashian sisters lashed out against their mother/manager for her “poor management skills.”  Although KUWTK may not be the most stimulating form of entertainment available, it does exhibit that effective collaboration requires empathy and communication.

Of course there are other forms of collaboration in the business world as well. The open-source software movement has provided an inconceivable amount of data and information available to all. This transparency allows people to modify the software code, leading to more improvements in a shorter amount of time. This example of collaboration demonstrates how openly sharing information can benefit everyone.

Another beneficial form of collaboration occurring frequently is organizations working together to reach a common goal, such as developing sustainable business plans. These companies realize the benefits of sharing ideas and creating an open discussion. For example, the Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP), founded in 2008 by Nike, Starbucks, Levi Strauss & Company, Sun Microsystems, and Timberland works together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Collaborative initiatives, like BICEP, are becoming more common and show that effective collaboration can help mitigate big problems.

My first few weeks at Organic gave me firsthand experience of collaboration at work in agency culture. There is a constant flow of communication among all disciplines, allowing information to be shared quickly and efficiently. When disagreements occur, they are used to bring about solutions without creating resentment. The trust among coworkers allows each discipline to operate independently when necessary. This absence of micromanagement and effective use of collaboration helps create a pleasant, productive workplace.

In today’s world collaboration plays a vital role in the success of a project or a business. Sharing information and trusting others helps build relationships that have the potential to benefit all parties involved. As I continue my internship at Organic I hope to develop my ability to collaborate with others.

Molly LaFave is Intern, Engagement Management at Organic