Editor's Note: A quest for collaboration

While I was on a quest a few years ago to find a Cincinnati restaurant that would be close to a Northern California-type eatery, I happened upon Slims in the Northside neighborhood. The collaborative and community aspects of some Northern California restaurants has intrigued me for some time, and I had to check out Slims, which offered many similar qualities.
My intention here is not to review the food or service, but to draw a comparison between any bistro that uses collaboration as a way to develop a sense of community and a company that does likewise for its employees. Slims, I should point out, has been closed for some time.
Slims had three communal tables, providing for 24 to 30 diners. Only three people operated the restaurant, and each contributed to cooking, serving and washing the dishes. There were no servers, and the menu was fixed price, with only a few offerings.
Right off the bat, my observation was how this type of restaurant has to constantly invent and reinvent itself.
Successful companies also focus on continuously innovating and refining their products.
Here’s a test to see if you, as a leader, have the ability to launch and maintain a collaborative culture in your business.
The next time you are at a restaurant with several friends, offer your companions a taste of your entrée. Make sure more than one agrees to do so. If you have a beverage of which you are fond, share a taste of that as well.
As this friendly sharing continues, it will approach the limits of your comfort zone — how much of your meal do you feel you can share without getting possessive of it? If a third person asks for a taste after two others have done so, do you feel uneasy? Do you feel that juicy prime rib disappearing before your eyes?
This kind of test is not for everyone. You might have a group where no one wants to participate, much less offer a taste of their dinner in return.
But sharing an experience and giving an opinion of the meal, establishes a community built upon collaboration. If you feel OK having the experience of sharing a meal, it’s likely you’ll support a collaborative culture in your business.
The person who shares best and grumbles the least (if at all) would be your collaborative champion. That is the kind of person you need in a company to ensure that collaborative efforts drive successful results. All the pieces have to be in place — the people, leaders, tools and environment.

One other piece is needed: patience. A collaborative culture just doesn’t happen overnight. It takes effort and can’t be rushed. Just like a great meal.