The Daily Human – Collaboration – 26/8/21

I find organic or impromptu collaboration between people one of the most beautiful forms of human expression. When its not planned or choreographed. But everyone just comes together to pull in the same direction.

My favourite example of this is watching a team goal in football which involves some unselfish telepathic passing.

Yesterday I experienced it in a corporate setting. And it was special.

Usually everyone thinks very narrowly. Along tight functional lines. Chasing personal agendas or goals.

But yesterday, I witnessed (or rather participated) in a special collaboration. A bunch of people from across the organisation, covering almost all functions, discussed sales related problems and opportunities and came up with solutions together. There were even a couple of eureka movements – people coming up with the same idea almost at the same instant.

At that point, they didn’t belong to any function or role. They were just trying to do the right thing for the customer, the sales person and the business.

There was no facilitator. It just happened. It was beautiful. Although i am not sure most people realised it as it was happening.

I thought about it later and felt really great.

I also know why it happened. I think I know how we cans make it happen more often.