Finding a Pearl in the Mess of Failure

          “There once was a leader who was young and full of ideas.  His mind blossomed with thoughts about what could be in the lives of the students that he ministered to.  He desired to build a ministry that others would envy which would undoubtedly fulfill his calling from God.  This young man devoted his mind and heart to create the best possible events, lessons, and activities for students, which he was sure, would alter their lives forever.  On the night of the first event he prepared the room for several hundred people, only to have a handful show up.  Shortly after the event his phone began to ring from frustrated volunteers, confused parents, and an upset boss.  This young leader couldn’t understand where his plan or desire to impact the world for Christ had gone so wrong.  However, several years later it all became extremely clear through a conversation with a beloved mentor. 

            During this conversation the mentor spoke into the life of the young leader and he discovered the missing element in his ministry, collaboration.  Taking into account the ideas of others was something that this young leader had overlooked because of his lone ranger approach to ministry.  It was on this night that he realized a missing piece in his leadership and altered his approach drastically.”

            Does this story sound at all familiar?  For me, personally, it rings true because it is my story.  As a young leader I believed that I could change the world, solely by myself.  Needless to say it wasn’t until a beloved mentor spoke the truth into my life, that I began to understand the need to listen to and involve others in my ideas.  In all honesty I love the feeling of success much more than the taste of gravel in my mouth from falling on my face.  The need to collaborate with others is something that is crucial to the success of any leader.  The effects of collaboration are numerous however here are three positive effects that deserve attention.

1.    Collaboration creates innovation-Your team will be introduced to ideas and systems they may never encounter otherwise.  This will often lead to fresh thinking and better solutions within your own organization.

2.    Collaboration reduces unnecessary risk-Sharing time, resources, and brainpower makes the risks less.

3.    Collaboration amplifies success-More input leads to more output, which results in a win/win for everyone.

Based on these effects it is safe to say that collaboration breeds success.  We need other people as Mother Teresa reminded us of by saying, “You can do what I cannot do.  I can do what you cannot do.  Together we can do great things.”  In other words we need other people to achieve our goals.  As I thought about this final principle presented in the book The Catalyst Leader I was reminded of the great leaders throughout history.  Were they great because of their decision making, bold spirits, and ability to lead, sure.  But ultimately, I think they were successful because of the people that they surrounded themselves with.  Author C.S. Lewis stated, “The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”  In other words, we need the ideas, input, and feedback of other people in order to create something innovative, fresh, and lasting.

So how do we build a spirit of collaboration on our teams?  Here are six keys that Charles Lee, the founder of the Ideation Conference shares as insights:

·       Make sure expectations are clearly laid out on the front end. - Define the wins and create clear expectations and agreements from both sides including defining what success looks like.

·       Stay adaptive, humble, and accessible - Seek to build a culture of trust where everyone is approachable, transparent, authentic and strives listen well.

·       See collaboration as a need, not just an option-It is messy, but it can work.  Creativity comes out of great collaboration.

·       Choose wisely - Everything is publically available so choose wisely.  Good partnerships start with a deep knowledge of the other person/company/product.

·       Be intentional in finding common areas of interest and connection - Intentionality requires us to follow up again and again but it won’t seem like work if we share passion/interest about the idea/product

·       Make connections - Connect friends within your respective circles by being others-focused.

Collaboration is a wonderful thing when used wisely and effectively.  The sharing of ideas, feedback, and even criticism can be one of the most beneficial things that you do as a team.  Just remember the words of this anonymous author when seeking to develop a culture of collaboration, “You don’t have to blow out someone else’s candle to make yours shine brighter.”