Which of the following skills is essential for workplace collaboration?

Effective communication is essential for workplace collaboration because it enables team members to express their ideas, share information, and provide feedback clearly and efficiently. When individuals communicate effectively, they can better understand each other's perspectives, resolve conflicts, and coordinate their efforts towards common goals. Communication skills facilitate the flow of information, which is crucial in collaborative environments where teamwork is key to success.

In contrast, options like independence, speed, and rigid adherence to rules tend to detract from collaboration. Independence, while valuable in certain situations, can hinder teamwork if individuals are more focused on their own tasks rather than working cohesively with others. Speed may result in rushed or incomplete communication, which can lead to misunderstandings among team members. Rigid adherence to rules can stifle creativity and flexibility, both of which are important in a collaborative setting where adapting to new ideas and approaches is often necessary.