The most meaningful creations in life and business are done in collaboration and connection with others. When you engage in collaborative design, you engage in the act of co-creation. "The ideas .... you design are not just presented to you or fetched by others … they are co-created with you in collaboration with the whole community …" (Source: Designing Your Life, Burnett & Evans).
I have a strong tendency to collaborate with others on almost everything. I believe in the power of WE to build winning strategies or navigate a career transition.
A JURY OF MY PEERS
Whenever I led an especially high-stakes project at Time Warner, I always made time for 2-3 peer reviews. I had a small team of trusted, diverse people who served as an informal panel to push my thinking throughout the project.
I chose a senior researcher, the VP of finance, a PR manager, and a marketing leader as my advisors. Collectively, this was the most thoughtful problem-solving team I've ever assembled. Their feedback was invaluable, and I learned so much from them.
Most people don't take this step. It can be humbling to ask for feedback in a culture of perfectionism. I saw it as a huge advantage to building great products and strategies. The investment made by this team always saved time, strengthened our business case, and, frankly, made me look good.
WHY "TEAM" IS A GROWTH UNLOCK
Just as a corporate board helps maximize profits, intentionally building a team with the right mix of perspectives, thinking, and styles drives your project or life forward.
A great team can:
Tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. A solid team can be a fair witness to what they see - saving you from heading down the wrong path.
Keep you accountable, give you insight into your strengths and weaknesses and prod you to make difficult choices.
Pull the camera back and get you out of your head.
Serve as a mastermind to help move you forward with confidence.
WHO AND WHEN?
If you haven't read Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats, it's a quick and powerful read. De Bono's simple (not simplistic) approach outlines six thinking styles. Using this framework can help you deliberately bring the right style in at the right time.
Six Thinking Hats are outlined at a high level below. Remember, these are styles, not necessarily personalities. Hats and thinking styles can be worn and practiced by anyone, depending on the project's needs.
Image inspired by Six Thinking Hats, De Bono.
Who comes to mind for you when you look at these styles? My former boss and friend, Jennifer, is my go-to for yellow and green thinking. Her ideas are endless, and her optimism is boundless. Speaking to her always gives me the energy and confidence to leap.
IN AN EARLY STAGE OF BUSINESS OR PERSONAL TRANSITION
At the start of a project, keep it to just four hats. Find a team member for each of these four roles:
Image inspired by Six Thinking Hats, De Bono.
You know who they are. In a life transition, the red hat loves you, supports you, and has probably seen you through some shit. In business, this is the person who considers the consumer needs, pains, staffing, and human issues that will make or break a product.
Our yellows are people who can find a way through any situation. They are wildly optimistic, generative, and have a "yes….and" attitude - in business and life.
Greens can generate dozens of ideas at the drop of a hat (see how I did that)?
Blue will bring structure and accountability to your ideas and dreams and prevent having the same conflict repeatedly. Your blue thinker will kick your butt, set a deadline, and schedule the next meeting. Shit will get done.
ALL WEARING THE SAME HAT?
Read the book to learn more about parallel thinking to drive more productive problem-solving. Take the time to choose the hat needed at that moment, and have everyone use that thinking style for a conversation: "Everyone take a green perspective for a moment. How many ways can we think of to solve XYZ problem…?".
That's it. Four people. Four hats.
AS YOUR IDEA OR TRANSITION TAKES, HOLD
Now it's time to add in two more essential thinking styles: white and black.
Image inspired by Six Thinking Hats, De Bono.
The devil's advocate or black hat can be overused. The white hat can be overwhelming in an early stage of an idea. You may need to brace yourself for this conversation - but DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
My panel of advisors at Time Warner included all six:
The finance and research staff would push me on facts and logic.
The PR manager would bring a broader point of view.
The marketing leader represented the consumer's voice.
I am heavy on the green, yellow and blue side - so we had those covered.
TRY THIS AT HOME:
See which styles YOU most identify with and bring in the others to build a well-rounded problem-solving machine.
WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED?
What approaches do you use to build a team for a business project or a personal board of advisors?
If you’re feeling stuck, put on the blue hat, build your board of advisors and commit to meeting with them at least twice a year. Start the conversation with an introduction of the thinking styles before you launch into your first meeting.
Good luck, and let me know how it goes!
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