How Collaboration Sparks Creativity
The Power of Creative Cross-Pollination
Quick update
I’ve been away from all my work and writing for a few days over the school Easter holidays, while I took some time to be with my daughter and recharge. I’m back now and ready to deliver you all my best ideas on creativity, marketing and using your talents strategically.
So, for this week, I want to know if you’ve ever noticed how a chat over a cuppa with your best friend can spark some of your best ideas, most interesting conversations and funniest stories?
There’s a reason for that and it’s not just about the tea…
The Solo Creator’s Struggle
Creative souls are often (but not always) introverted people who have a vision of themselves as the solitary artist tucked away in corners waiting for inspiration to strike its golden beam.
And, before I learned about manifesting creative inspiration, I used to think this too. I used to sit at my desk staring at a blank screen, trying to think of what comes next in my work in progress, convinced that true creativity means I have to work out my problems all alone.
But, since then, on my long journey to better creative understanding over the last year, I’ve found that some of my most brilliantly creative sparks of inspiration have been when I’ve been around others, and that wasn’t just for my writing, if I think about it, it’s been throughout my marketing career too. All the best creative campaigns came from sitting together brainstorming and workshopping ideas and solutions as a team.
Why Collaboration Helps Creativity Flow
Different Perspective - Better Solutions
When you bring different points of view together and different ways of looking at things into a single solution, you’re not just adding ideas, you’re opening your mind to the possibility of different thought processes and solutions. It’s like mixing two colours to make a different colour.
The Energy Exchange
There’s an unmistakable buzz that comes from creative collaboration and that energy is contagious. It fuels enthusiasm, which then fuels someone else’s enthusiasm. It ignites imagination in everyone and creates a chain reaction effect. Sometimes, over the years, I’ve found myself saying;
“I always feel so much better when I’m around like-minded people.”
This is the power of collaboration energy with the right people.
Breaking through Blocks
Sometimes, an issue you’ve been mulling over for ages takes one small comment from someone else to unlock the solution you’ve been circling for ages. I’ve seen this so many times.
One in particular was a client who had written himself into a situation and wasn’t sure how to fix it for the character in his story so he could move on. This had ground his writing to a halt for weeks. I asked him if he knew what was going to happen next in the story after he’d solved this problem. He said “yes,” so I suggested he try writing the next section and leave this stuck bit for a while, as often, writing forward helps you write back, and no one said it had to be linear.
This unlocked weeks of blockages and it was a simple comment that helped him get moving again.
The point here is that if he hadn’t taken that step back and looked at things from a different perspective he would still be stuck in that loop of writer’s block and not really making any progress. You see, the important thing when it comes to this is to take things that inspire you, but not things that make you feel inadequate. And, collaboration is the same, find the way that works for you.
A simple off-hand comment from someone with a different point of view can sometimes help you unlock things you’ve been struggling with for ages. And, this can take any form, it doesn’t have to be a group, it can be
a one-on-one collaboration with someone else on the journey
accountability partnerships
online groups and spaces
creative groups or classes
craft and creative fairs
poetry readings
hiring a creativity coach
It’s whatever fits for you and what you need.
Collaboration in Moderation
Now, I’m not suggesting you rush out and book yourself lots of collaboration opportunities or join every group around, that would be exhausting if you’re anything like me.
And, I don’t want you to do that thing of trying to be more extrovert to appear more like people expect (I’ve done that too and it leads to misery).
What I am suggesting, is to look at your own strengths and which things will fill up that creative well, then do those in moderation.
For me, if I join a monthly workshop or group I find the discussion around creative ideas inspiring, and just enough to fill that well without being too draining. However, if I were to do that every week or more, it would have the opposite effect and drain me considerably. It’s all about knowing your strengths and limits and making sure the people you’re around are the right people for you.
Sometimes, it’s about meeting up with your favourite people now and then and just telling them how things are going, sometimes it’s joining a craft workshop in something completely different to your own business, just for the pleasure of it.
Things to do
1. Map out what fills up your creative well and what drains you
2. Look for opportunities that allow you to have contact with other creatives
3. Do everything in moderation, in line with what works for you
4. Try new things like craft workshops, book readings and creative discussions
5. Have fun
Your Turn to Spark
Don’t forget if you’re ready to ignite your creativity and finally ditch the creative blocks, I’ve created something special for you.
Download my free Creative Blockbuster Workbook, it’s filled with easy exercises to help you ditch the blocks and free your creativity.
What’s Next?
Speaking of something special, I’ve been busy working on something amazing and exciting, coming your way very soon.
I’ll be launching my special Creative Marketing Clarity sessions, where we work together to infuse creativity into your marketing strategy and stay away from the spammy, yucky tactics - instead finding a way to market that aligns with you, your values and your fun side.
Stay tuned for more details.