When two heads (or seven) are better than one… the art of collaboration.
One of the first things that I tell my clients is that I am not the technical end of things…at all. However, I have a fabulous team of people supporting me that are that strong technically. Thank goodness for that because one thing that I know is that my strengths lie in my people skills and not my programming skills. Hence the reason that the lights are still on and the doors are still open here at Red Sage Communications world headquarters.
Seriously, though, we pride ourselves in the fact that we have an extremely collaborative work environment. We are not afraid to ask questions. We are not above asking for help. We are always looking for inspiration and ideas in each other.
When a new opportunity comes in we usually assemble the appropriate team and brainstorm the best approach for the project. We talk talk design, we talk programming, we talk marketing messages and channels among various other aspects.
It’s not uncommon for you to find a group of us gathered around a doorway or around Amanda’s desk discussing new ideas and strategies. I attribute this atmosphere to our fearless leader, Ellen. Ellen has always wanted to maintain a creative environment. When we moved into our current space, she specifically laid out our “collaboration areas” to ensure that ideas flow freely.
This is to the benefit of our clients. Why have a jack of all trades and a master of none when you can have the best of all of us?
A couple of tips for productive collaboration:
- Leave your ego at the door: Yes, you have wonderful ideas. However, your team may have ways to improve your great ideas. Be open to suggestion.
- Do your homework: Try to understand who really needs to be involved. You do not want to waste your colleague’s time. Try to communicate to your team members why you feel that they can contribute to this project.
- Don’t be afraid to speak up: Even if it is not the best of ideas it may spark something in someone else that leads you to the best strategy.
- Capture the magic: Try to record the information being given. Write it; put it in a note on the ipad, voice note it…something. Don’t try to just remember it….you won’t.
I hope that I have given you some insight on how the Red Sagers collaborate successfully. It might not be a formal process but it certainly works for us.