The Art of Collaboration
Years ago, I illustrated this image because I couldn't find one that truly captured the essence of collaboration. It's not something you can do alone; it involves a shared purpose and goal, bringing together people with different roles, responsibilities, and skills, and navigating the interdependencies, coordination, risks, and vulnerabilities involved.
We know the incredible things that great collaboration can achieve. It can truly 'move mountains.' Many of us feel a deep sense of fulfilment when we're in that sweet spot of seamless collaboration, and we can make the impact we aim for. Unfortunately, reaching that state is tough, and once there, it's hard to maintain. Sometimes we wish collaboration would work like a well-oiled machine, and thus, we treat humans as if they should. That’s when things start to go wrong.
If collaboration were a machine, you could figure out its mechanics and program it to perform its function. But we're dealing with humans—complex and unpredictable. They change and disrupt the 'system' daily. They come and go, hold various opinions, pull in different directions, affect each other, and often misunderstand. They have emotions, conflicts, and can take counterproductive actions. Personal and professional ups and downs affect engagement levels. We all know this because we're part of it every day.
I invite you to view collaboration as an art form rather than the workings of a machine. This perspective requires creative skills, imagination, and ongoing practice. It's about creating, co-creating, and re-creating the emotional power and beauty of collaboration. Claudia’s C-Suite is like a recipe, explaining the 10 critical subsystems of collaboration. Mastering these elements involves tailored techniques and creative practices, and most of all, dedicated time.
If you'd like to turbocharge collaborative efforts, improve, or learn the artistry of collaboration, please stay in touch or reach out to me.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
– Henry Ford