PART 1
We now have restored our culture – back to when I started AGORA in 1985.

We have a great culture. We are, however, showing a lack of true collaboration; and this creates issues for us.

How do we fix these Collaboration issues?

We need to go back to the beginning.

When AGORA was started in 1985, I asked myself “Why should any company, partner with AGORA?”

That is when it occurred to me that I should have a company philosophy to:
1.  Serve as a guiding light – to start and grow AGORA
2.  Gain the trust of our customers and suppliers

My set of beliefs and principles revolves around:
1.  Exceptional customer service
2.  Superior quality
3.  Delivery per customers’ expectations
4.  Collaboration within our teams – we cannot deliver on the above promises without team collaboration
5.  Sense of Urgency in every action
6.  Innovation in Design, Continuous Improvements in manufacturing and administrative processes

We are just embarking on this new initiative – Collaboration. I will keep you updated every three months to provide a progress report.

PART 2

Need Collaboration for Improved Culture to Show Results

We are making progress…
I have been working to improve team collaboration, by showing teams how to collaborate.

When a project is successfully completed, I meet with the team that worked on the project.
Here are some questions that I ask the team:
1.  Did you have more than one option to solve the issue?
2.  Did you have to weigh options, to determine how to proceed?
3.  Did you have to go back because you needed one more associate’s input to complete or revise the option?

We then discuss a better way to collaborate by:
1.  Identifying associates who need to be involved to solve the issue
2.  Holding preliminary meetings to discuss the project and required output
3.  Discussing options
4.  Selecting the best solution with a potential second option if required
5.  Holding periodic meetings until the project is completed

I also have been discussing the automation of processes, and learnt that many associates are capable of working on solutions. We have a very talented group of associates but have not gotten far, yet.

At the forefront of my list to improve/automate, is the ability to speedily create new prototypes. I often thought that there must be a better way to quickly create new prototypes based on similar product designs. Designs are usually done in SolidWorks. I challenged one of the associates to see if he could find a better way – and he did, resulting in very fast new product designs. During a meeting of the minds, everyone was impressed by the new design solution. Associates are now starting to constructively challenge each other so they can come up with the best possible solution – with everyone’s buy in.

Instances such as these lead me to believe that we are making progress.

PART 3

We are continuing to make progress on collaboration—and now we are starting to see real, measurable changes.

What once felt somewhat fragmented is becoming more connected. Teams are communicating better, supporting each other more naturally, and working together more effectively.

So, what sparked this change?

One of the drivers behind this progress has been the addition of younger associates over the past couple of years. They are more accustomed to working in groups, sharing ideas, and helping each other. That mindset has had a positive influence on the broader team.

To build on this, I started meeting with them briefly at the end of each day. These are short, informal check-ins where each person shares what they worked on.

Over time, this created visibility.

People now have a better understanding of what others are working on—and that awareness is leading to action.

We are starting to see associates step in to help each other without being asked. Communication is improving, and teams are becoming more aligned.
Collaboration is becoming more natural.

As this approach spreads across the organization, we are seeing:
1.  Better teamwork
2.  We meet together and resolve any issues
3.  More focus on meeting customer expectations
4.  We still have work to do, but the direction is clear.

This experience continues to reinforce an important point:
When people are informed, connected, and encouraged to contribute, collaboration begins to take hold.

When people are informed and connected, collaboration begins to happen naturally.