Creativity and collaboration have been on my mind a lot lately. It may seem that writing a book is all about the creative spark. However, I’ve come to learn that collaboration is an integral part of the creative process, every step of the way. I now know that every book is a collaborative effort. Starting with running ideas by my sounding board throughout the research, writing, revising, and editing stages as well as working with freelancers throughout the publishing process. Working collaboratively with experts such as editors, designers, and promotion and marketing experts is vital in producing a high-quality product. The key is to keep an open mind and embrace new ideas and various perspectives and possibilities. It’s important to have a vision and stand up for one’s opinions, but it’s just as important for the creative process to recognize that an emotional attachment to one’s own ideas can become an obstacle to progress and growth. Often ideas grow better when they are shared and discussed. We might think that creativity is a talent and a solo pursuit, but it can be, and I would argue that it should be, a communal effort of a group of people who combine their talent, expertise, ideas, and energy to bring something new into the world.
Now that my book is out, it’s just the beginning. Collaboration must continue with marketing experts and the readers. The importance of forming communities of collaborators is true to all professional endeavors across industries and domain expertise and positions. I challenge you to consider what makes you uniquely valuable to your current or potential employers, colleagues, and network? What do you bring to the collaborative table of today's modern workplace? Collaboration means joint effort to complete a project or a task where different skillsets are advantageous. Being collaborative means being willing and able to work well with others. In today’s fast-paced and specialized workplace, it is very rare to come across a job in which you’ll work completely alone. Most jobs require teamwork and collaboration. Individual roles and responsibilities unfold within a team and an organizational context. Collaboration requires a big picture understanding of how each person is an important piece of the overall teamwork puzzle. Collaboration is about possessing a strong work ethic and making a consistent effort to produce high quality work. It’s about looking for ways to contribute to the success of the team.
Shared knowledge is the cornerstone of effective collaboration further broken into 3 components:
Recognizing the value of different knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Seeking cross-pollination, to be exposed to new ways of thinking and ideas.
Willingness to tackle challenges and find novel solutions.
No professional is an island. Work life consists of interdependencies. 10 qualities of great collaborators:
Team focus: aligning personal contributions to the team’s objectives and overall business strategy.
Respect: putting oneself in others’ shoes and recognizing the value in different work styles, approaches and perspectives.
Critical thinking: looking beyond conventional solutions and connecting the dots.
Communication: expressing ideas clearly, directly, and honestly.
Sharing: sharing the right information and resources with the right people at the right time.
Initiative: finding ways to pitch in and make things work better.
Reliability: taking ownership of work and delivering on commitments.
Flexibility: embracing challenges and creating new opportunities within them.
Adaptability: knowing when to lead, when to follow, and what to continue, stop, or start doing.
Appreciation: recognizing the gifts of others and thanking them for their contributions.
Collaboration is the Secret Sauce for Career Success. 5 Ways to Practice Collaboration:
1. Be relatable: make it easy for people to connect with you. Show genuine interest, listen actively, be open-minded, and communicate clearly & with confidence.
2. Assume positive intent: give others the benefit of the doubt. Embrace the strategy to be curious, not furious.
3. Look Beyond Yourself: explore ways to make a difference. Care about the good of those around you and engage in acts of kindness.
4. Think Win-Win: seek mutual benefit. Work toward the common good and best outcomes for all., where everyone wins.
5. Share the Work and the Credit: take responsibility for your own work & share the glory. Hold yourself to the highest standards & share the credit for success with other contributors.
Whatever the goal, we can all benefit from the strength and support of people in the teams we either find ourselves in, or those we build for ourselves. You can be a collaborative leader by engaging people and getting them to work together toward a common goal. It is more about facilitating group effort than about managing a team or making decisions for a group. You don’t need an official title or rank to take lead on a project or process that you care about. You can take steps to build your influence as a person who has the ability to drive hard for results by displaying a strong commitment to people and outcomes. In this context, collaboration means working closely and problem-solving with a group of people who each brings a different skillset and contributes in a unique way.
May you pursue big goals, enjoy effective collaboration, solve interesting problems, and achieve great outcomes!
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