Collaboration breeds creativity.

Creative people have a tendency to act alone. They work well with themselves, but have a hard time playing with others. It’s not that they don’t like other people, it’s just that they feel others slow them down. Creative people don’t like having to explain themselves and convincing others about their ideas. They just want to do and nothing slow them down. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get going and avoid obstacles, but when we cut people out of the creative process we end up cutting our effectiveness down as well. Creative people can create amazing things by themselves, but imagine how much more they could create with others. The truth is the more collaboration the more creative we can be in the long run.

But are you supposed to work with everyone? The answer…NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Creative people must be very careful who they work with. The right person can add to the creative project, the wrong person can destroy it (see my posts about Innovation Assassins). So how should a creative person choose who to work with? Here are some tips…

1. Work with people that share your values.

Diversity is great until it creates so much tension that it sniffles creativity. We want to surround ourselves with people who are different than we are until there becomes such a gap that you aren’t working together anymore, you are working against each other. You have to surround yourself with people that share your values that way there is the same true north when you are working together. Even if you disagree on certain things you both can agree on the most important things. Make sure you surround yourself with people that share your values or you will not share anything together very well.

2. Work with people that share their life

You want to make sure you connect with people above the level of acquaintance. In order to be super effective you have to work with a team that you can share your lives together. If works just becomes work, then there is no creativity. We must surround ourselves with people that are open and willing to be in community. The more isolated people are the less creative they will be. Don’t try to build a team that is all task oriented and never life oriented. A team that opens up is a team that will open up new doors of opportunity.

3. Work with people that share your joy.

The chemistry must be right in order for creativity to flow. If the variables are off, the final result will be off. No one wants to work in hostile environments where people are angry, upset, frustrated, and rude to each other. These type of environments kill productivity. A beautiful plant can’t grow in the darkness, neither can creativity grow in negativity. The more negative the environment the less creative the outcome. Make sure that you work with people that bring you joy, and that you bring joy to those you work with.