In the world of work, collaboration has become a catch-all term for a range of activities, many of which are just thinly veiled procrastination. Let’s break this down with a simple example: writing a paper. When you're on your own, the pressure to get it done is real. You might procrastinate, but eventually, you'll find a way to finish the task because you’re individually accountable.

Now, flip that to a team setting. Suddenly, the paper isn't just your problem; it's a team project. Instead of focusing on actually writing it, you dive into shared documents, Slack threads, and endless meetings. This might feel productive, but in reality, it often just creates noise. There's a lot of movement, but it lacks direction and structure.

What’s happening here is a classic case of procrastination dressed up as collaboration. Without clear goals or stages, all this "teamwork" ends up being busywork. It feels like progress, but it's not. You're putting in effort, but you're not actually moving forward.

Here’s a simple fix: embrace individual accountability and add structured collaboration where it makes sense. Assign tasks clearly, set deadlines, and define what success looks like. Use collaboration to enhance your efforts, not to replace them. When you blend personal responsibility with effective teamwork, you cut through the noise and make real progress.