25 Relevant Women for 2025: Madi Rădulescu, executive coach. “We learn to collaborate when we want to get rid of the “pebbles in the shoe”, the small but persistent frustrations that block us”

The new episode of the podcast has executive coach Madi Rădulescu as a guest, from whom we learn why working together makes a difference and how a culture of collaboration can be built.

Personal success is today heavily promoted, while collaboration is becoming more and more difficult. Learning to work together can make all the difference. Madi Rădulescu, author of the book “Collaboration Mentality”, offers practical ideas about the barriers we have to overcome and the benefits we get when we collaborate.

The latest episode of the 25 Relevant Women for 2025 podcast brings to the forefront concrete insights on how we can develop a culture of collaboration, what obstacles we face and what we gain when we work together.

Collaboration is not just a theoretical concept, but a way of living and working. According to Madi Rădulescu, collaboration means putting together the way of thinking, resources and perspectives to find solutions to common problems. It is the red thread that connects all our activities, whether we are talking about family, education, companies or society.

Although many are looking for a clear definition, the book proposes a practical approach: collaboration means doing things together, constructively, for the well-being of all involved.

The foundation of collaboration and the invisible obstacles

Collaboration is based on the desire to be together, trust, goodwill and social skills. It is not an attribute reserved for managers or leaders, but a necessary skill for anyone who wants to build something, whether at home or at work.

One of the biggest obstacles to collaboration is ego. In many organizations, individual success is overrated and team results are not measured or recognized as much. This dynamic breeds a “me versus others” mentality.

A healthy ego helps to preserve identity and assertiveness, but when it exceeds a certain limit, it becomes toxic to professional and personal relationships. Although many employees report that they work well in teams, studies show that the actual level of trust is low. There is a need for constant control and checking of the other, which diminishes openness and productivity.

Acknowledging and owning up to problems, through honest discussions about what's bothering us – the “pebbles in the shoe” – can unlock strained relationships. Trust is built step by step, through direct involvement, honesty and keeping promises. At the same time, humility plays a key role: the willingness to listen, to learn from others, and to accept that we don't have all the answers.

The skills and values ​​that support collaboration

To collaborate effectively, it is important to know, to be able and to want to. Knowing involves the ability to build and maintain trust between people and to identify common values ​​that unite a team, such as integrity, dedication or responsibility.

Being able means listening actively without interrupting or judging, complementing another's ideas without constantly fighting them, and analyzing others' needs to identify concrete ways to help.

Wanting requires consistency with one's values, proactivity even in environments that do not encourage collaboration, but also perseverance and discipline, because change occurs gradually. Madi Rădulescu proposes a pyramid of collaboration values, based on goodwill. Without an open and benevolent attitude, any collaborative effort becomes almost impossible.

The culture of collaboration must be especially supported by leaders and managers. In organizations where departments operate as “bubbles”, collaboration is reduced. Change starts with the attitude of leaders, who should make it clear that team results matter as much as individual results.

When there is no culture of collaboration, the solutions lie in personal example, openness to receptive people from other “bubbles”, persistence and loyalty to one's own values, but also open discussions about the benefits of working together. Change may be slow, but the seed of collaboration will bear fruit if it is consistently planted and nurtured.

Collaboration does not happen by itself. It takes reflection, discipline and continuous practice. The author emphasizes the importance of modesty and self-reflection, essential qualities for any professional who works with other people.

Through collaboration, teams become more effective, innovation occurs more easily, job satisfaction increases and work environments become healthier