Values Blog Series: Why Collaborations matters for wellbeing

Collaboration often feels second nature in our Department. People are quick to offer help, share knowledge, or step in when something needs doing. That spirit of working together is one of the things that makes our workplace so supportive and enjoyable, and I was both honoured and slightly taken aback to receive the Collaborative Value Award for being part of that.

Collaboration can mean many things, especially in research. Most projects, teams, and ideas are developed with input from any number of people and there’s a focus on future collaboration in most of the things we do.

In my role as Research Communications Officer, almost nothing happens in isolation. Every press release, blog post, or event draws on the input of researchers, professional support staff, and often colleagues from beyond our Department. The best part of my role is bringing those perspectives together and finding ways to communicate the research published by Department members so that it resonates with the right audiences - be that patients, the public, journalists, policymakers, or other researchers - all to aid the impact our work has and to build opportunities for us as a Department to collaborate further.

Beyond the projects and outputs, collaboration also plays a big part in how we feel at work. Most obviously, when things are busy working together helps spread the load and build resilience, reducing stress when challenges inevitably arise. But, on a deeper level, how we work together and collaborate as colleagues can be a huge support for our wider wellbeing.

In a department as diverse as ours, we are surrounded by people with different areas of expertise, experiences, and ways of approaching problems. By listening to others and genuinely appreciating these different perspectives, we build stronger relationships based on empathy and trust - relationships that not only make our work more effective but create a supportive network we can rely on.

True collaboration also means adapting to different working styles, experiences, and personalities. Not everyone approaches tasks in the same way, so the key to working well together often lies in finding the balance between how we work best individually and how we can be most effective collectively, ensuring everyone feels heard and included in the process.

When we know we can share ideas openly, speak up, make mistakes, and learn without fear of judgement, we create a sense of safety that helps us feel confident, valued, and ready to contribute. This openness naturally builds a more inclusive environment where different experiences and perspectives are heard and valued. None of us knows everything, but by working together we learn from each other, broadening our understanding while improving our work.

The key to collaboration is really three simple steps:

• Listening first - taking time to understand what others are saying and why they’re saying it.
• Being generous - sharing knowledge, offering help where we can, and recognising the contributions of others.
• Being open - collaboration works best when we are willing to adapt, compromise, and sometimes rethink our own approach.

Ultimately, collaboration isn't just a workplace skill, it's fundamental to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. When we work together with genuine openness and mutual respect, we don't just produce better outcomes, we create a culture that supports both individual wellbeing and collective success. Small acts of listening, sharing, and supporting each other ripple outward, making our Department not just a place where good work gets done, but a place where people genuinely want to be.

Find out more about our Department Values here.