--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Collaboration, it turns out, is not a…" description: "\"Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires effort and practice.\" — Douglas B. Reeves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/douglas-b-reeves-41820_collaboration_collaboration-it-turns-out-is-not-a-gift_1280297.png" --- # Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods… ![“Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires effort and practice.” quote by Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/douglas-b-reeves-41820_collaboration_collaboration-it-turns-out-is-not-a-gift_1280297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/douglas-b-reeves-41820_collaboration_collaboration-it-turns-out-is-not-a-gift_1280297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/douglas-b-reeves-41820_collaboration_collaboration-it-turns-out-is-not-a-gift_1280297.png) > “Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires effort and practice.” [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaboration is a learned ability that needs deliberate practice and effort, not a divine gift. **In simple terms:** Working together is a skill, not a miracle. Key Takeaway Practice teamwork regularly. Themes teamwork skill effort learning Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - project teams - remote work - cross‑functional meetings - community building Key Concepts social intelligence cooperation skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure practice to improve teamwork? - What habits support collaborative skill growth? A Different Perspective Skill development can be hindered by personality clashes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [Any skill requires training. I took the corporate approach to acting and wanted to develop the necessary skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-daggubati/any-skill-requires-training-i-took-the-corporate-approach-to-acting/) [Rana Daggubati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-daggubati/) > [“The knowledge of the worker is often called ‘skill’, for it requires manual dexterity and training. The knowledge of the manager is ‘academic’ as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/the-knowledge-of-the-worker-is-often-called-skill-for-it-requires/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [Those who have power a) understand that the world is not always a just and fair place and accept that fact, b) understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/those-who-have-power-a-understand-that-the-world-is-not-always-a-just/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Happiness is a skill. It requires effort and time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/happiness-is-a-skill-it-requires-effort-and-time/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [We are not born focusing. It's an acquired skill that requires initial effort and constant upgrading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-are-not-born-focusing-it-s-an-acquired-skill-that-requires-initial/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“Practicing positivity is like brushing our teeth—it doesn’t last, so we have to repeat often. That’s where the effort and practice come in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-hallis/practicing-positivity-is-like-brushing-our-teeth-it-doesn-t-last-so/) [Tina Hallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-hallis/) > [“Like anything worthwhile, devoting ample time and effort to your practice is important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-t-lusk/like-anything-worthwhile-devoting-ample-time-and-effort-to-your/) [Julie T. Lusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-t-lusk/) > [Sometimes, if we are faced with obstacles, be they tangible or not, such as jealousy, worldly sentiment, greed, hatred or obsession, etc., there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ching-hai/sometimes-if-we-are-faced-with-obstacles-be-they-tangible-or-not-such/) [Ching Hai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ching-hai/) > [If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-take-pride-in-your-attainment-or-become-discouraged-because-of/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [As long as you put the effort in with your practice, the muscles in your arm stay relaxed and mental preparation is all it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-sherrock/as-long-as-you-put-the-effort-in-with-your-practice-the-muscles-in/) [Fallon Sherrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-sherrock/) > [Yoga is effort. Only practice is important. The rest of knowledge is only theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/yoga-is-effort-only-practice-is-important-the-rest-of-knowledge-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [“Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times  Aeschylus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-b-chopra/happiness-is-a-choice-that-requires-effort-at-times-aeschylus/) [Deena B. Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-b-chopra/) > [“The world, finally, is no longer large, and to ignore it likely requires more effort than to simply take notice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bissell/the-world-finally-is-no-longer-large-and-to-ignore-it-likely-requires/) [Tom Bissell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bissell/) > [Like any other living, growing thing, love requires effort to keep it healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-any-other-living-growing-thing-love-requires-effort-to-keep-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people are sensible enough not to question where they came from because that requires effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/most-people-are-sensible-enough-not-to-question-where-they-came-from/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) ## More by Douglas B. Reeves > [One of the greatest inhibitions to the development of human potential is the aversion to effective practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/one-of-the-greatest-inhibitions-to-the-development-of-human-potential/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Behavior precedes belief - that is, most people must engage in a behavior before they accept that it is beneficial; then they see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/behavior-precedes-belief-that-is-most-people-must-engage-in-a/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [“I regularly invite educators and leaders to send me their questions, and hundreds of them do so every month. The most common question, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/i-regularly-invite-educators-and-leaders-to-send-me-their-questions/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Sustainable change, after all, depends not upon compliance with external mandates or blind adherence to regulation, but rather upon the pursuit of the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/sustainable-change-after-all-depends-not-upon-compliance-with/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Vision without implementation is counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/vision-without-implementation-is-counterproductive/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Technology sometimes encourages people to confuse busyness with effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/technology-sometimes-encourages-people-to-confuse-busyness-with/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [The central challenge for educational systems around the world is the substitution of effectiveness for popularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/the-central-challenge-for-educational-systems-around-the-world-is-the/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [For teachers, getting annual test scores several months after taking the test and in most cases long after the students have departed for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/for-teachers-getting-annual-test-scores-several-months-after-taking/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) > [Deep and sustainable change...requires changes in behavior among those who do not welcome the change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-b-reeves/deep-and-sustainable-change-requires-changes-in-behavior-among-those/) [Douglas B. Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) [Explore all 10 Douglas B. Reeves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-b-reeves/) ## More Collaboration quotes > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [Today's world requires a different leadership style - more collaboration and teamwork, including using Web 2.0 technologies. If you had told me I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/today-s-world-requires-a-different-leadership-style-more/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [“Damn, amigo. Just how much Oprah have you been watching since I’ve been gone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-adrian/damn-amigo-just-how-much-oprah-have-you-been-watching-since-i-ve-been/) [Lara Adrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-adrian/) > [As an entrepreneur and investor, I prioritize construction and collaboration. Whether it's a five-person start-up or a global giant, the companies that are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/as-an-entrepreneur-and-investor-i-prioritize-construction-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/on-any-collaboration-you-want-to-respect-your-music-and-the-other-s/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [“CWC (Church Women Concerned) enabled us as women in that part of South Africa, to see ourselves as ordinary citizens who found themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sindiwe-magona/cwc-church-women-concerned-enabled-us-as-women-in-that-part-of-south/) Sindiwe Magona > [Steadman! Any guy that's got Oprah as a girlfriend, I mean that's a good dude. I want to talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bush/steadman-any-guy-that-s-got-oprah-as-a-girlfriend-i-mean-that-s-a/) [Billy Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bush/) > [There are a lot of people whove been able to ditch their Windows machines and switch over to Linux because they can now use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-friedman/there-are-a-lot-of-people-whove-been-able-to-ditch-their-windows/) [Nat Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-friedman/) > [I realized that what I was looking for was doing collaborations with other people - people who can play a ballad, rock, jazz. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-realized-that-what-i-was-looking-for-was-doing-collaborations-with/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I've done loads of collaborations and I'm never totally happy with the outcome because it feels like you're compromising something of yourself in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-mohawke/i-ve-done-loads-of-collaborations-and-i-m-never-totally-happy-with/) Hudson Mohawke > [“With commitment and vision, it is possible to build a bridge between potential partners and communities whose work is of relevance to peace-building initiatives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/with-commitment-and-vision-it-is-possible-to-build-a-bridge-between/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [I love mixing amateurs and professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/i-love-mixing-amateurs-and-professionals/) [Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Browse all 1,240 Collaboration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires effort and practice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas B. 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