Some of the best work I have seen comes from the collaboration of many rather than the good idea of one. What does that mean, really? It means that even when we feel we have that aha moment, that career-changing, life altering idea bringing key players into the mix to develop it, is indeed a smart plan.
“But, but it’s my idea!” you exclaim whilst folding your arms and stomping around like a two year old (I do this on a regular basis). Yes, the idea is yours but some of us are made to generate the ideas and some execute the plans that make those ideas real. I hear another “but” coming, just because we choose to collaborate does not nullify our good, great or grand idea. It is still the collateral of our minds, it still belongs to us.
If we were to define collaboration, especially in the creative arena, we would find it is rather simple. Collaboration consists of seeking out individuals who possess the skills to help you in generating a plan to put your idea into practice. If I, as the owner of a creative services company, think up a way to make Facebook easier for our clients to use - I look to my team to take my idea and throw constructive feedback my way and aid me in developing processes to make it work in the real world.
I look to my design guru to take my sketches and create engaging visuals, I look to my technology solutions engineer to manufacture actual working applications. We then work together as team to bring this idea into fruition and deliver a salable product to our clients. It all seems very simple. But that little ego inside of you wants to isolate the idea and hoard it away from the collaborators who can help you realize it. It is the poor choice not to tape that frisky little ego’s mouth shut that leaves so many amazing ideas doomed to live life on the drawing board.
The failure to collaborate with the minds in your sphere is a critical error in judgment. We want to throw all kinds of variables on the table: They might steal my idea. It won’t be the same as the way I thought it up. They will take my idea and ruin it. There are two things that cry out for attention here: Fear and mistrust. If you cannot trust your collaborators, get new ones. If you fear for any reason at all, including the preservation of the integrity of your idea - LET IT GO! Fear and mistrust derail the creative process.
These elements of fear and mistrust are why we hear so many people say things like, “Dang why didn’t I think of that?” Truth is, you probably did think of it, you just chose not to collaborate therefore your idea never made it past the fleeting thought stage.
This week collaborate on something. It doesn’t need to be a huge, grandiose undertaking. It can be something simple. Try collaborating on an easy way to rearrange furniture in your home or office to make the flow of the space more comfortable. Ask the people in your life to toss their hat in the ring and see what solutions they offer for making your idea a reality.
Helpful Links:
Steps to Collaboration
1. Look for individuals who possess skills that compliment your own.
2. Examine your idea and decide what types of skills you might need to put theory into practice.
3. Use the tools around you to locate collaborators: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Referrals from friend and colleagues.
4. Make notes on your idea so that you are prepared for collaboration.
5. Get an actual or virtual whiteboard.
What do I do when the fruit of collaboration is contrary to my idea?
Keep in Touch for Next Week's Post:
Reworking the Collaborative Process
Choosing which elements of a conceptualized idea work and do not work.
Coming in February:
Constructively Criticizing: The Art of Giving Useful Feedback
When to Put Your Hard Hat On and When to Take It Off
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