A Harvard Business Review cover story last year raised fears of “collaborative overload.” The authors cite that in many companies 80% of employees’ time is spent in meetings, phone conversations and emails. The authors describe it as an “avalanche” of requests for input or advice and meetings. It should be no surprise then that we now have “collaboration platforms” such as Slack and Asana. These collaboration platforms are apps for workplace chat and instant messaging. One of the companies cites a study that productivity is improved with “connected” employees.

Back up: Communication is not collaboration. In conflict management we speak of collaboration as a win-win strategy to reach agreements that satisfy the interests of the parties in conflict.  Collaboration does not come easily—particularly to people accustomed to bargaining and compromise. Collaboration requires thoughtful and open discussion of interests and development of alternative solutions.

So when some speak of “collaboration” platforms and “collaborative overload,” they are really talking about conversation. Shouldn’t more conversation result in more conflicts being managed productively? Not necessarily. That’s one of the myths of conflict management. More communication may actually result in just the opposite as parties may learn just how much they disagree.

As a board member of the Desert Community College District, it has been so rewarding to have helped implement the plEDGE program at College of the Desert.

Currently in California, so many students who enter community colleges and four-year universities don't finish degrees. In urban Los Angeles 70% of high school graduates enter college but only 25% graduate within six years. There are as many reasons as there are students, but one major shared reason is financial. Many students have to work to support themselves and their families, which means they can't attend full time and become discouraged by their slow progress. 

At College of the Desert we will be able to offer local high school graduates two years of free tuition and fees. In exchange, students must commit to full time enrollment and participate in community service programs.

I can't think of a better way to impact our community and the lives of our students than to help them complete associate's degrees in two years with the job skills to enter the local workforce. 

A small number of community colleges are offering similar programs and could soon become a common practice that will benefit young people across the nation.