Collaborations Part 1 of many

Collaborations Part 1 of many...

We all need connections! It doesn't matter if you are doing work on a local, national, or international level you will most likely need to collaborate with another human being. With that being said,most of the time the same rules apply when you doing work on an international scale. I believe in democracy and like to hear as many voices as possible before I take my position.  I enjoy working in group settings and networking with individuals from all across the globe. I never considered having international partners until someone asked me to assist with fine tuning an evaluation plan for a local NGO in Ghana. And BOOM one conversation changed my life. So how do you go about collaborating with individuals across the globe. Below are a few tips.

1. Open Mind 

   1. There is no right or wrong way to complete a task. You may have used a dishwasher all of your life. However, someone else may have washed dishes by hand. There are several ways one can come up with a conclusion based on their prior knowledge or experience. Therefore, you should keep an open mind while collaborating with individuals from various cultures. 

2. Be Yourself 

   1. Don't try to impress others or be who you think they will "like". Just be yourself..authenticity is key. Connections happen with like minded individuals so there is no need to stress yourself out while trying to connect. You will attract individuals that match your personality.

3. Your not everyone's match

A professor once told me once heard the quote "there is enough to go around" this quote can be applied to collaborating. Some people look great on social media, paper, tv, and sound good on the radio but in person they are the complete opposite of what you expected. Take your time to get to know your considered partners to make sure their a good fit. I have countless stories about mismatched collaborations. Thank goodness most of them happened while in grad school. I learned that your time and energy are critical to your success, therefore you want to test the market before making a full investment. 

Thank you for your time.

Questions/Concerns?

If you would like to hear more on this topic comment below. 

Till next time!

WHAT, WHERE, WHY AFRICA: TAKE 1: MISSING AFRICA

Missing Africa…..

Relaunch 2019….it has been a minute but I am back!! I decided to relaunch my blog to expand it into a website which includes my upcoming projects. I am happy for several reasons and I wanted to share my new experiences within a one stop shop. Why am I so excited….#1 WE HAVE A BABY BOY...yes, he was born in March of 2019 and I am a new mommy so who knows what is in store for my great baby but I feel thankful for all of the support from my family and friends who have encouraged me to continue my work on the continent. #2 My team and I have finalized all South Africa 2020 trip plans and promotion has begun (check out our tours to South Africa).  #3 I am a co-host on a youtube podcast that will feature South African guest and there is more to come.

In other news….it has been an entire year since I have visited the continent which has been an emotional struggle for me because I am very much connected to not only my friends who have turned into my family but the physical space of Africa. Pregnancy allowed me to reflect on the blessings that I have been given while also thinking about how can I share these experiences in addition to connecting people across the globe. So excuse me if I bombard you with my ideas as I plant these upcoming seeds!!!!