THE COLLABORATOR
The Collaborator is a powerhouse of possibility.
The Collaborator is someone who joins forces with likeminded people to see a vision, dream or goal outworked.
The Collaborator knows what they can achieve alone is far eclipsed by what they can achieve together — greater ideas, greater momentum, greater results.
These collaborators think different and see different and are excited to take new creative ground together as a united front.
1. THE COLLABORATOR JOINS FORCES WITH THE LIKE-MINDED
The Collaborator looks for and joins forces with those who are like-minded.
He chooses his partners and/or team with wisdom. He values like-mindedness. He knows that at the core of any successful collaboration, there needs to be a common goal and in order to reach that common goal, common thinking is required.
'We are of the same mind. United. In agreement with a common heart.' These are often healthy words used by the collaborator to describe their relationship with their partner and/or team.
2. THE COLLABORATOR HAS RESPECT FOR THEIR CO-COLLABORATORS
The Collaborator quickly acknowledges their respect for their co-collaborators.
They treat their co-collaborators with a kind heart and heavily guard negative assumptions of any other team player. They always assume the best about each other, believe the best and bring out the best in their team.
The collaborators respect each other's skill set.
They acknowledge that two are better than one when it comes to getting things done. They respect the space of the contributing artists; allowing them to work their magic on the task at hand. They hold dear the gifts that lie within each other, and don't seek to overtake or downplay their talent or skill set.
They often find a healthy compromise as one collaborator adds to the other. Like an ice skating duo that requires detailed choreography and difficult lifts, they know that moving forward without agreement can create dangerous detours, even injury, as they head toward their desired destination. Yet together, they graciously find a perfect sequence, a flow of movement and together they make their way towards a common goal.
3. THE COLLABORATOR IS FLEXIBLE
The Collaborator is adaptable, open minded and teachable. They have the ability to bend ideas and thoughts (calendars and deadlines) without it breaking into a million pieces.
They learn the art of response when circumstances change suddenly. They flex in order to stay strong and work creative muscles that may never have been used before. They understand that flexibility within the workplace causes opportunity for new solutions and ideas to be discovered.
4. THE COLLABORATOR AGREES TO RESIST RISING EGO AND SELFISH AMBITION.
The Collaborator knows that a rising ego can be a trap to push their team off track from the real mission. They understand that deep within every soul is a yearning to be seen, to be acknowledged and granted importance. They also know that ego, self importance and thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to, can be destructive.
The Collaborator mentally pulls down a curtain on either side of their lane, like a runner on a race-track, to focus all of their energies on their own path and their part to play in the collaboration.
They understand that competing with others on the team isn’t the goal. But rather valuing the power of togetherness, bringing their personal best, which will result in a greater impact.
They don’t seek to take all the credit, but willingly share and push their team forward. The collaborator is so secure that remaining anonymous seems exciting. The joy of the accomplished mission is what drives them the most and brings about satisfaction.
5. THE COLLABORATOR CHOOSES TO CREATE A HEALTHY CULTURE
The Collaborator chooses to encourage, chooses to celebrate the wins and masters the art of keeping the peace.
The Collaborator understands that no human collaboration can be perfect. Mistakes will be made and there are often consequences of that mistake that will affect the collaboration as a whole. Yet, the collaborator is quick to respond with grace and helps to find a solution. They keep blame at bay and can often be found backing up their team members and holding a unified front.
The Collaborator reigns in unnecessary negative emotion, stays relaxed even in stressful situations and creates space for the collaborative family to thrive.
"The more relaxed you are. The better you are at everything. The better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with your enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself." - Bill Murray
6. THE COLLABORATOR SEES THAT 1+1=3
The Collaborator knows that two is better than one because they will get a good return for their work. Aristotle once said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” and The Collaborator knows how to harness that kind of synergy. They also understands the eternal principle that if you share the work, you will share the wealth!
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.”
So…
Are you someone who has the ability to join forces with like-minded people?
Will you have respect for your co-collaborator? Do you respect their skill set? Will you be flexible?
Can you agree to resist rising ego and selfish ambition in order to see the mission accomplished?
Do you choose to encourage, celebrate the wins, and master the art of pursuing peace on all occasions?
Can you stay relaxed in stressful situations, keep blame at bay and create space for your collaborative family to thrive?
Can you see the eternal principle that two are better than one?
If you are shouting yes to the above then can we encourage you to get moving!
The world is desperate for the fruit of TRUE COLLABORATORS and for artisans who are willing to lay aside their solo career and pursue the unmatched synergy of TEAM. Find your co-collaborators and start to build that which is in your heart to build!
Special thanks to my business partner at TheFirstHelloProject.comBel Pangburn for collaborating with me on writing this and for the killer design . Also Carmen Myers for being the best editor a girl could ever need. XO