Tackling taboos to build collaboration

I've worked in or with institutions of higher education for 13 years, which I realize is a drop in the bucket for some of you veterans. However, in these years and with each institution I've worked with or for, I've been struck by the power that taboos and historical grudges can have in relationships that preclude a lack of communication and collaboration.

Some of these taboos are based on real incidents that have happened in the past, some taboos are handed down through successors, e.g., upon being hired, one seasoned faculty member tells the new faculty member to watch out for this department or that person. And, sometimes these taboos are completely based on assumptions, perhaps one researcher assumes that another is critical of their work and decides not to discuss or collaborate with them because of it.

My sense is that these taboos seem to manifest more in higher education for a couple of reasons. The first is that in higher education you have many faculty and administrators that are there for a long time. These folks are a wealth of knowledge and historical perspective, but they can sometimes get stuck in those perspectives and can be resistant to change or moving on. The second reason is the climate in higher education: it's stressful, competitive, and it's traditionally been set up as each woman or man for themself. To suggest collaboration in that environment seems futile, and we can see how the lone-wolf researcher is itself a taboo that wards off any attempt to collaborate.

So, taboos are a barrier to communication and collaboration, but they can be broken down to make way for relationships and research collaborations. Here are some ways to begin breaking down little taboos.

Ask about them: Much like the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes," as soon as you name a taboo, it begins to lose it's power. If you sense there is a story or a reason someone doesn't seem to want to work with someone else or you, identify it and ask about it.

Example: "So, Larry, I hate to bring this up and maybe it's just me, but every time I ask about bringing Andrea into this collaboration, you change the subject. Do you have concerns or know something I don't that makes you reticent?"

Don't assume: Oftentimes, when people sense something is taboo, they assume the worst and move along with that assumption. Along with asking about the seemingly taboo topic, make sure you're acknowledging and checking your own assumptions.

Example: "Susan, you seem to be avoiding me since I gave you feedback on your grant proposal. Am I reading into this or did my comments frustrate you?"

Research collaborations themselves can generate new taboos, particularly if the team doesn't discuss work allocation and order of authorship, or other high-stakes decisions. So, to avoid taboos in your current or future teams, begin by discussing and clarifying these items. And, whenever you sense a taboo starting to form, ask about it and check your assumptions.

Resource:
Taboo Triangles - Charles M. Lines