I think a lot about the concept of collaboration.

Building strong teams is why I got into this line of work in the first place. But, like anything, too much of a good thing can quickly become a problem.

Too much collaboration can feel chaotic, unproductive, and frustrating.

We often think of boundaries as the opposite of collaboration, but the truth is, boundaries enhance teamwork.

Without clear guidelines, collaboration becomes messy and ineffective. Once you understand why this happens, you can strike the perfect balance.

Let's dive in.

The Problem with Collaboration

Have you ever had to work across multiple teams?

It sounds great in theory—different perspectives coming together, ideas bouncing off one another.

You might think, "The more people involved, the better the outcome."

But I’ve seen too many projects derailed by that exact mindset. In reality, it often leads to confusion, duplicated work, and a whole lot of wasted time.

This is a perfect example of "The Tragedy of the Commons."

The Tragedy of the Commons happens when what’s best for individual teams ends up hurting the overall organization.

Shared resources get overused, decisions get delayed, and accountability disappears when too many people are involved without clear boundaries.

In companies, I see this happen all the time. Managers don’t see the immediate impact of their actions on the larger team, which jeopardizes long-term success for everyone involved.

The Consequences of Collaboration Overload

Here’s how the tragedy plays out in real-time:

• Teams have too many decision-makers, leading to constant back-and-forth without actual progress.
• People think others will handle tasks, so important things fall through the cracks.
• The company wastes time and energy, dragging down productivity and morale.

The result?

A frustrated leadership team, managers who feel unsupported, and employees who lose motivation because no one knows who’s accountable for what.

The Power of Boundaries: Constructive Collaboration

So, what’s the solution?

Collaboration thrives with clear boundaries, well-defined relationships, and a shared understanding of what’s expected.

Here’s how to create those boundaries and make collaboration work for your teams:

1. Define clear roles – Make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what. Use tools like the RACI Matrix to assign ownership and prevent confusion.​
2. Invite input, but limit decision-makers – Collaboration works best when the right people are involved. Get input from relevant teams but keep decision-making efficient by limiting the number of final decision-makers.
3. Establish a clear decision-making process – Clarify who has the final say. When discussions go in circles, having a decision-maker ensures progress and avoids delays.
4. Check-in regularly, but keep it brief – Regular communication keeps everyone on the same page, but too many meetings kill productivity.

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Applying This to Your Leadership

So we see how the right boundaries can be powerful. But how do you translate this into something that actually helps you create collaborative traction for you and your teams?

Here are a few strategies that have worked for me and my clients:

• Set clear expectations for collaboration: Make sure your team understands where their responsibilities start and end, and how they contribute to the bigger picture.
• Encourage inter-unit coordination: Foster relationships across teams, but ensure they are structured and goal-oriented. Collaboration should move the organization forward, not create competition between units.
• Lead by example: When you manage your personal relationships with other teams constructively, the people under you will follow. Set the tone for positive, boundary-driven collaboration.

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Embracing Boundaries

Managers who don’t set boundaries often end up with a competitive, defensive mindset.

They treat requests from other teams as low priority, complain about other units, and, ultimately, undermine the success of the whole organization.

This "me vs. them" mentality is a race to the bottom.

Collaboration is about achieving a common goal—boundaries help you get there faster. It’s not about limiting creativity or shutting down ideas; it’s about creating the structure your team needs to thrive.

As a leader, it’s your job to set the tone for collaboration. When you establish clear boundaries and stick to them, you create an environment where you build trust, increase cooperation, and reduce internal competition.

Well, that's all for this issue. I hope you enjoyed it.

See you next time.
Shaun