When the path forward seemed confusing, trail goers stopped to give directions or figure it out together. When someone questioned if certain trails connected, hikers showed their maps to each other. As people passed other parties, they often described the challenges ahead so that these travelers would be prepared. Someone asked about the percent incline of the mountain, and another visitor used his compass to help measure it. When the trail narrowed, hikers often moved off the trail to let others by. Park goers described and recommended their favorite hikes and overlooks to people less familiar with the park.
During a recent trip to Colorado, my spouse and I spent two days hiking parts of Rocky Mountain National Park. As we hiked, picnicked, and stopped at overlooks, I noticed something interesting: each person we encountered seemed happy to interact with fellow visitors to help enhance their experiences.
I was struck by the comradery, and I thought about the correlation with our work teams. At the park, most of us were there for a common purpose—to hike, drive through, or otherwise enjoy the beautiful mountains. Further, instead of viewing the park experience as a singular one meant only for our own interests and those of our travel companions, we all connected with strangers around our shared goals and chose to work together, show the way, give advice (when asked!), and bond over the awe-inspiring experience.
How might we embed this level of collaboration into our work? First, we can remind ourselves of our purpose and unite around those mutual goals, whether our mission centers around patient care, research, education, building a business, or serving our community. Second, we can choose to pursue our goals as partners with colleagues across the organization, even team members we don’t yet know or might not meet again. Just as in a majestic park, we can choose to work collaboratively, offer assistance, share the map, and ultimately both enhance everyone’s experience and make progress towards our destination.