Do you play a musical instrument? If so, you will probably agree that musicians have an inherent ability to collaborate. They even have their own word for it. Musicians “jam” together all the time, and every musician that I know enjoys playing together more then practicing alone.
Why should we collaborate?
- Ownership breeds acceptance.
- The best people are not in your group.
- Synergy, the sum is greater then the parts.
- Increased power, influence, and resources.
- Investing rule #1: Diversity ensures growth.
How to collaborate?
- Utilize interconnections.
- Find individuals and groups with parallel interests.
- Provide specific goal sets to the appropriate individuals.
- Focus on noticeable impact rather then tireless work.
- Create suitable physical and online collaborative spaces
How to stay effective?
- Use meeting time to meet, not schedule.
- Require goal oriented focus at every interaction.
- Work within time assigned tasks, define short/long term.
- Give credit where credit is due.
- Democratic decision making.
Don’t be afraid to commit you, and your groups time to a collaboration that is parallel to your vision, but may not point specifically to your vision. Those that you work with will be the ones that work with you in the future.
Let’s take a lesson from all the musicians; start naturally collaborating and create something great together.
