Sparkplugs!
This last Friday, I spent some time in conversation with Max Hardy and Anthony Boxshall, who together with Susan Carter deliver Authentic Co-design. Mixed into that conversation was a bit about the starting point for collaboration. What kind of person decides to kick off a collaborative project? Every collaboration needs a spark, so who steps up to be the sparkplug?
Collaboration typically comes from an overwhelming need (or maybe it's a desire), to do things differently, and the “sparkplug” ends up being the person or the group that is sick and tired of trying to get different results from the same old approach. How many times have we heard about organizations that develop something new, do a big reveal, and then spend the rest of their time explaining what they’re doing and why. There’s a reason it’s called the DAD approach, as in Decide, Announce, Defend.
For artists, it's a bit of the same thing I suspect. Some artists have reached a level of mastery in their craft and are now looking to level up and build new energy in their craft by collaborating with others.
So, what kind of person gives the spark to collaboration? Who’s a sparkplug? (Complete credit for the ‘sparkplug’ term goes to Tai Lake with the Hawaii Artists Collaboration).
Of course, anyone can be a collaboration sparkplug. But there are a few traits that seem common to people who seek out and organize collaboration.
Tired of the status quo. While I already mentioned this one, it bears repeating. We keep trying to solve a problem without ever trying a different approach. I think of this as unique problem meets standard operating procedure.
Able to influence authority. Somehow, the collaborative work needs to be sanctioned and there has to be a reasonable level of commitment, because otherwise those responsible to take action or provide funding just won’t be there. It may be that the sparkplug is actually the decision-maker with the authority to act, but it is also just as likely that they are able to convince those with authority to try something different.
Curiosity. This is really tied to point #1, in that a person’s curiosity will drive them to the question, “what can we do differently?” I personally think this curiosity trait can show up in a few different ways and that collaboration comes when the question is more along the lines of “surely, somebody knows how to do this better or differently?”
Tenacity. Seeking and then driving forward with a collaborative approach isn’t always easy. Many will see it as a risky way of doing business or will see it as an affront to their established authority. Collaboration sparkplugs sometimes have to push through that resistance to make the collaboration work. In a way, a sparkplug has to blend being curious to explore change with being resistant to not changing.
I’m sure these are only some of the attributes to effective collaboration sparkplugs. And it’s not a recipe. The collaboration spark can come from anyone, whether these are their characteristics or not. The important part is to step up and give it a try on some manageable scale.
Share your thoughts. I’d like to know what makes the kind of person who collaborates as a default. Email me at scott.millar@collaboration-dynamics.com
Happy Collaborating.
Scott Millar, through Collaboration Dynamics, often works as a "peacemaker" by gathering people with different experiences and values and helping them navigate beyond their differences to tackle complex problems together. As the host of the Cool Collaborations podcast where he explores fun stories and insights of successful collaboration with guests from around the world, and then dives into what made them work. Cool Collaborations is currently available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
