Turn in, not out

Collaboration works when we turn in, not out.

When tension shows up, and it always does when we try and solve challenging problems, most people turn out.

Blame the system. Blame the customer. Blame each other. It feels safer. But turning out erodes trust. Turning in builds trust.

Turning in means:

• Owning your part.

• Staying in the hard conversation, even when it's awkward.

• Choosing curiosity over judgement.

• Asking: "What can I do to help better understand or move things forward?"

Research shows teams with psychological safety, where people turn in rather than out when difficulties show up, consistently outperform others. They learn faster, solve problems more effectively, and stay engaged longer.

It's because strong collaboration isn’t built on being right. It’s built on staying present when it’s uncomfortable. Looking to learn when things go wrong.

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