Is collaborator really a dirty word?

Thursday 12th March 2009 | No comments

Many people believe that all creative genius is a solo affair and that to involve a group at best dilutes the process and at worst risks ridicule or outright idea theft. Whilst it is true that private space is vital for the imagination to roam unchecked, don't underestimate the importance of timely group discussion.

Many of the greatest creative minds have relied on open discussion and interaction with colleagues (and those from outside their own field). Einstein, Nils Bohr, Socrates, Jonas Salk and numerous others credit collaborative thinking as part of the reason for their breakthroughs. Socrates even developed 'rules' for these discussions, which he called 'Koinonia', or 'spirit of fellowship'. These guidelines included:

  • Exchanging ideas without trying to change another person's views. He believed it was vital to listen careful, without interrupting or arguing
  • Suspending your assumptions and judgements and staying as open and unbiased as possible (this will be a work in progress for most of us...)
  • Being honest - even if your thoughts are controversial

Coming together with others in this way allows the synergy of different paradigms and viewpoints to work together, leading to new combinations and ideas that would not be possible for one mind alone.

Now, there is clearly a huge place for the individual creative thought process, and this will always be so.

But, it is also vital to think whether the time is ripe for sharing ideas and problems. One way to do this is to form a 'mastermind' group, which might be colleagues or friends from different disciplines. (Diversity can be vital - the DNA code was cracked by a collaboration between a microbiologist, physicist, X-ray crystallographer and chemist, among others). You can come together as a team to solve a specified problem, or form a regular ongoing group as a sounding board and creative think tank.

If you don't have 'real world' colleagues at the moment to perform this function, why not compile a group in your head - those who inspire you, or who have qualities or achievements or ways of thinking you would like to emulate. Imagine them all (or just one at a time) with you and ask them how they would solve this problem, or which course of action they would take. (How would Frank Lloyd Wright, or Edison, or your mother, or Jack Welch, or... deal with the situation you are facing today? Better still, how would their conversation go if they were to meet together to discuss it?)

Suspend your disbelief and try it at least once - you may be surpised by the results.

Tags: ideas, creativity, tips, assumptions

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