I've learned a lot over the last year about collaboration and have come to this conclusion -- to successfully work with others on a project, you should follow the rules of improv:
NEVER SAY "NO": Say "yes, and. . ." when someone offers an idea. A positive response keeps the creative flow moving. It just makes sense. When you say, "no," people shut down, confidence falters, people go into survival mode and it's game over.
LISTEN: Don't just wait for your chance to talk. See where they're going and follow them.
TRUST: They want the project to succeed as much as you do. They are not trying to sabotage you.
BE SPECIFIC: Details help others to visualize your idea. Don't say "a man gets into a car" -- say "Raymond Lipton, Attorney at Law, slipped behind the wheel of his red Mustang."
FOCUS: Keep the big picture in mind and everything else will fall into place.
HAVE FUN! Communicating with others and sharing ideas is an exhilarating experience. Enjoy the journey.
4 comments:
What a wonderful post! You speak volumes of truth in these words - and anyone who follows them will find their collaboration flowering instead of floundering! Top marks!
Craig: Thanks. It's so important to be able to work with people in a positive way. I'm involved with projects all the time and it's great when we all get along and have fun as we work together to get the job done.
This is really great advice.
Angela: I think it's a good policy for just about any type of communication or group project. Pretty simple to follow and the results will be fantastic.
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