Introducing Collaboration Dynamics!

Welcome to this first post and welcome to Collaboration Dynamics!

This blog, and indeed the whole concept of this venture, has been in the works for a while now … probably a little over a year. For this first post, here’s a bit of a foundation for the whole thing:

What is Collaboration Dynamics?

Through the Collaboration Dynamics community, I connect both budding and experienced collaborators to new ways of thinking, new bodies of knowledge, and new tools to aid their practice.

My vision for this venture is really to create a community where we can collectively advance the reach of collaboration, which is really a fancy way of saying that I hope to help more people overcome the barriers to working together. There’s no telling where this could go, but I have intentions to put together blogs and articles, training sessions, podcasts, and who knows what else. Stay tuned for more. Have a topic or barrier you want to learn about? Send me your suggestions!

Why collaboration? Why is that your focus?

This is a great question … one I’ve had to think about because I realize that while I’ve always emphasized a collaborative way of working, I didn’t have a clear answer built in my own head for why it was important to me. I had no ‘elevator speech’ for the inevitable question ‘why do you do that?’

Here’s what I figured out:

The Potential of a Cool Idea

I get pretty jazzed about ideas. Maybe it's a new way of doing something, or a known approach used in a completely novel way … especially when you can apply the ‘new thing’ to deal with an issue, solve a problem, or simple make life better.

I can be pretty innovative on my own, but I realized that a group of people can be way more creative than just plain ol’ me. Especially when that group can get into the groove and be willing to build off one another’s thinking … sort of like a World Cup soccer team working the field toward the goal.

While it may seem obvious that many people together can create better ideas, from what I’ve seen, lots of people shy away from true collaboration. Power, authority, and the desire to be recognized, piled on top of an upbringing that emphasizes individual contribution are all working against a collaborative mindset.

We need more good ideas, not less. The world’s problems are complex and divisive, so I see collaboration as a way to bring more potential solutions to the table.

Seeing People Connect

There’s another thing that happens when people collaborate - beyond the powerful potential to create new ideas - it’s the connections that are created between people.

I’ve seen skeptics and adversaries change into advocates and supporters through some amazing collaboration, and then not even notice they have changed their perspectives because they’re comfortable with shift. I’ve seen people speak from an opponent’s point-of-view - just to make sure that perspective was heard. And these sentiments can last. People I have worked with from years ago still point to the work we did together as if it was yesterday.

It comes from being part of something bigger than the individual or the organization. It’s a sense of belonging … and a sense of purpose … and it really, really lights people up. Collaboration, done well, combines emotional understanding with intellectual prowess - at a group level. People feel safe enough to dig beyond a position to share what they value and why they value it. While that is great for solving problems, it can also create lasting working relationships and friendships between collaborators.

What we are really talking about here is trust. Collaboration builds trust that can last. And just like good ideas, the world needs more trust.

Where to from here?

We’re in the early days of Collaboration Dynamics, so there’s no telling how far this will reach or how many people will be impacted. Sign-up on the website so you can stay tuned for updates and more, and don’t forget to share with someone you think would be interested.

I posted a short video on my website describing the fundamentals of collaboration, or collaboration dynamics. Check it out at Collaboration Dynamics.