Collaboration Skills Examples, Definition, and Tips

Collaboration skills are the abilities and attributes that help you work with others toward a shared goal. These skills are essential for successful teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in the workplace.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to impress hiring managers with the right collaboration skills on your resume.

1. Communication

Depending on your workplace and role, you might need to focus on different forms of communication skills.

For example, an office manager might spend a lot of time writing informative and thorough internal documents and participating in meetings, while a nurse will spend a lot of time speaking with patients one-on-one and making sure that all records are up-to-date and accurate.

Figure out what kinds of communication you’ll need to master in a new role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:

• Active listening
• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Presentation skills
• Nonverbal communication
• Negotiation

2. Ability to give and receive feedback

If your team wants to see meaningful progress, then you need to both provide constructive criticism and accept feedback from others with professionalism and openness.

Depending on your workplace and role, feedback might take different forms. For example, a project manager might need to regularly provide performance feedback to team members and receive input about project processes, while a graphic designer will need to incorporate client feedback into their work and provide clear explanations for their creative decisions.

Figure out what kinds of feedback will be most important in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:

• Constructive criticism
• Performance evaluations
• Peer reviews
• Client feedback management
• Progress reporting

3. Team building

Team building is a collaboration skill that involves creating a supportive team culture, fostering trust, and encouraging cooperation among team members.

Team building takes different forms depending on your workplace and role. For example, a department head might focus on organizing structured team development activities and creating formal mentorship programs, while a manager might concentrate on establishing informal knowledge-sharing opportunities and daily interactions that build rapport.

While team building usually evokes images of trust falls and awkward company events, there are lots of ways you can contribute to team building at work:

• Cross-departmental collaborative projects
• Peer learning sessions, where colleagues present on topics of interest and share their knowledge
• Peer mentoring programs, where you mentor colleagues in areas they are unfamiliar with
• Starting fun work traditions (like “Pink Wednesdays”)
• Initiating coffee chats or walking meetings
• Conflict resolution facilitation, when needed

4. Delegation

Depending on your workplace and role, delegation takes different forms. For example, a product owner might need to assign complex project components across multiple teams, while a store manager might focus on distributing daily tasks and mentoring team members in new responsibilities.

Here are some examples of delegation you can expand on in your cover letter or interview:

• Distributing tasks and assigning responsibility
• Managing your workload
• Allocating resources
• Monitoring performance
• Mentoring and guiding new hires

Figure out what kinds of delegation will be most relevant in your role and showcase those in your application. Here’s an example of how you might discuss your experience in an interview:

5. Flexibility

Depending on your workplace and role, flexibility manifests differently. For example, a software developer might need to adapt to new programming languages and methodologies, while a customer service representative might need to adjust their approach for different customer needs and communication channels.

Here are some experiences that highlight your flexibility:

• Learning new skills
• Implementing new software or technology
• Adapting to remote or hybrid work while maintaining productivity
• Collaborating on an evolving project
• Taking on multiple roles or diverse projects
• Adjusting to new management styles and schedules
• Improving processes and SOPs

6. Decision making

Depending on your workplace and role, decision-making varies in scope and impact. For example, a marketing manager might make strategic decisions affecting entire departments, while a video editor might focus on daily operational choices and resource allocation that will also affect collaboration.

Figure out what kinds of decisions you’ll need to make in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:

• Strategic planning
• Risk assessment
• Resource allocation
• Priority setting
• Problem resolution
• Team consensus building
• Crisis management
• Process optimization

7. Project management

Where there’s a collaborative project, there’s project management. As a collaboration skill, project management involves planning, organizing, and coordinating team efforts to achieve project objectives efficiently.

If you can show employers that you have project management skills, they’ll be more likely to consider you for leadership roles. Here are some elements of project management to include in your application:

• Initiation and planning: Defining the project’s objectives and scope, conducting research, and creating a project plan.
• Execution: Coordinating resources, assigning tasks to team members, and ensuring that the project stays on track to achieve its goals.
• Monitoring and controlling: Monitor progress and compare actual performance with planned targets, using data to identify deviations and take corrective actions.
• Risk management: Assess risks and develop response plans.
• Quality management: Define quality standards, perform quality checks, and address any issues that arise during the project.
• Project closure: Finalize all project deliverables, conduct project evaluations, capture lessons learned, and deliver the results.

8. Respect

Respect is an essential collaboration skill that involves treating team members with consideration, valuing their contributions, and appreciating diverse perspectives. Mutual respect among colleagues creates a positive work environment and encourages team members to offer their ideas and feedback.

You can show employers that you’re respectful by:

• Using professional language
• Acknowledging the contributions and achievements of others
• Expressing gratitude for your mentors, managers, or colleagues
• Demonstrating efforts to promote diversity and inclusion
• Highlighting respectful and courteous communication with clients and customers
• Showing cultural awareness
• Respecting professional boundaries and conducting yourself ethically

9. Emotional intelligence

Employers know that candidates with high emotional intelligence will make great collaborators because they’re more likely to be in tune with what others are thinking or feeling.

Depending on your workplace and role, emotional intelligence manifests differently. For example, counselors might need deep empathy and active listening skills, while sales representatives might focus on reading customer emotions.

Figure out what aspects of emotional intelligence are most crucial in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:

• Self-awareness
• Empathy
• Stress management
• Conflict resolution
• Relationship building
• Social awareness
• Emotional regulation
• Motivational skills

10. Negotiation

Being able to negotiate with others effectively is important for many different types of jobs. For example, a supply chain manager might focus on vendor contracts and pricing agreements, while a human resources professional might concentrate on salary discussions and benefit packages.

Figure out what types of negotiations are most common in your role and showcase those in your application. Here are some examples:

• Contract terms
• Resource allocation
• Timeline adjustments
• Budget discussions
• Conflict resolution
• Service agreements
• Partnership development
• Stakeholder management

How to showcase collaborative skills in an application

According to a recent survey on the most in-demand skills we conducted, 48% of hiring managers responded that soft skills are a must-have, while 28% said that a candidate’s soft skills are even more important than their hard skills.

That means it’s essential to demonstrate a strong blend of hard and soft skills in your application. Here are our top tips for showcasing collaboration in your application:

Mention cross-functional collaborations in your resume objective

Your resume inroduction is the best place to craft a compelling summary of your collaborative efforts. You should also mention any cross-functional collaborations here.

Highlight collaboration in your work experience section

Use your work experience section to emphasize specific projects or experiences where you collaborated with others. Specify which departments you worked alongside, what role you played, the outcomes you achieved, and the skills you used.

Use concrete examples in your cover letter

Unsure how to write a cover letter that highlights your collaboration skills? Choose one example from your resume and expand on your collaborative experience in the body of your cover letter.

You can describe a successful collaborative project you worked on and how your contributions positively impacted the team’s performance or project outcomes. Include quantifiable achievements when possible.

Discuss any experiences that involved working with colleagues from different departments or teams in your application, and emphasize how you were able to facilitate teamwork that led to a successful outcome.

Get recommendations on LinkedIn

You might not be asked to add your LinkedIn to an application, but more and more employers will check a person’s profile to get a better idea of a potential candidate’s character.

Use this to your advantage by showcasing actual references from colleagues or supervisors. Online recommendations that mention collaborative skills will serve as a strong testament to your abilities.

*Bonus* Use the STAR method in your interview

During the interview, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe specific examples of how you’ve collaborated at work.

Explain the challenges you faced, the actions you took to collaborate effectively, and the positive results you achieved as a team. Illustrate how your collaboration skills align with your target company’s values and help contribute to a positive work environment.

Resume examples for different industries

Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.

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Frequently asked questions about collaboration skills

Still have questions about collaboration skills? Check out our answers to some of the most common questions below.

How can I foster collaboration skills in the workplace?

If you’re looking for ways to grow your collaborative skills, we’ve got you covered. Here are four ideas you can implement at work to get recognized as a star collaborator:

1. Initiate informal collaborative activities: Take the initiative to organize gatherings in more casual settings, like lunchtime discussions or cafe work sessions, where colleagues from different departments can interact and share ideas.
2. Volunteer for cross-departmental projects: Let your manager know that you’re interested in working on cross-departmental projects. Cross-functional initiatives provide the opportunity to encounter diverse skill sets, foster teamwork, and expand your professional network.
3. Offer support and expertise to colleagues: Be proactive in offering help and sharing your expertise with colleagues. Your willingness to support others will contribute to a positive, collaborative atmosphere.
4. Engage in active listening and empathy: Making an effort to understand your colleagues’ perspectives, concerns, and ideas, and respond with respect and consideration, will build trust and enhance collaboration.
5. Actively participating in meetings: Use active listening, repeat what you’ve heard back to colleagues to ensure you understand, and volunteer suggestions and ideas to every meeting.
6. Asking for (and graciously accepting) feedback: Not only does this show an active growth mindset, it will also expand your skills in all arenas of work.
7. Encourage diversity: Expressing interest in different viewpoints builds collaborative efforts and shows a welcoming spirit, even if the idea isn’t necessarily the right one.
8. Participate in offered workshops or training: Take any chance you have to upskill yourself, and while learning you can show your commitment to the team’s growth and collaborate with others.

How does collaboration demonstrate professionalism?

Collaboration demonstrates professionalism by showcasing an individual’s ability to work and communicate with others in a respectful, cooperative, and curious way. When employees actively collaborate, they show dedication to achieving common goals and contributing to a harmonious work environment.

Why are collaboration skills important?

Collaboration skills are important because they foster teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, which in turn lead to improved productivity and a healthy and positive work culture.

When employees collaborate effectively, they can pool diverse skill sets and perspectives that drive innovative solutions and create better outcomes for the organization.

How do I say I have good collaboration skills?

Instead of saying you have good collaboration skills, demonstrate them by emphasizing the active role you’ve played in team accomplishments. Highlight instances where you contributed creative ideas, and worked alongside colleagues to achieve shared objectives. Here’s an example:

“As a marketing specialist, I actively worked with the sales team to align marketing strategies with customer needs. Through these collaborative efforts, we achieved a 30% increase in lead generation and a 20% growth in sales.”

Additional skills-related resources

Below are more skills-related resources for different industries to help you write your resume.

• Best soft skills for your resume
• Hard skills
• Technical skills
• Skills-based resumes
• In-demand job skills
• Multitasking skills
• Transferable skills
• Accounting skills
• Receptionist skills
• Child care skills
• Sales skills
• Marketing skills
• Project manager skills
• Nursing skills
• Server skills
• Cashier skills
• Teacher skills
• Sales associate skills
• Is a skills section necessary on a resume?
• How many skills should you list on a resume?