Collaboration is one of those must-do skills for a successful career especially within corporate life. No matter how intelligent or experienced we are, groups of professionals working together are smarter and more productive than the same individuals working separate.  If we can build relationships and learn to help one another our careers will accelerate, our companies will reach goals faster and our time spent at work will be more enjoyable.  Patrick Lencioni talks often about a smart company vs. a healthy company.  A smart company is skilled at all the decision sciences such as technology, finance, marketing and strategy, 95% of time these decision sciences get the focus of leadership.  A healthy company however, is one with minimal politics, minimal confusion, high morale, high productivity and low turnover among good employees.