The Next Chapter – Secret #8 Selecting Empowering Partnerships and Alliances
I’m taking part in an online book blogging club called The Next Chapter. This post is part of our discussion about The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women. Feel free to jump in to the conversation here or with some of the other posts about secret #8.
My first thoughts about this chapter were about creative collaboration. I’ve had a few thoughts about some different creative projects that I think would be fun to embark on. Usually with a particularly talented visual artist, whose style I find intriguing and powerful. But, this chapter is about more than just a creative collaboration, it’s also about business partners and support groups. And after Jamie’s prompt, I’m trying to think about the characteristics of my ‘dream team.’
I enjoy working mostly on my own. Collaborative brainstorming for ideas is great in groups. But the actual meat and bones of the work, I like to do it all myself.* However, I never think that my creation is all my own, because there are so many other people involved who make it possible. Did that make any sense? I hope I made that clear enough.
I tried to think of one giant list of characteristics for my ‘dream team’ but then realized it was silly of me because the characteristics will be different depending on what role they are fulfilling. So, I broke it down into smaller ‘dream teams.’
Inspiration Team
These are the sources of ideas, new projects, etc. These are the types of people who I would be willing to talk an idea out with when an idea is in its raw form.
- optimism
- diversity of background, interests, opinions, etc.**
- faith
- energy
- engagement
- dialogue
- kindness
Guidance Team
These are the people I turn to when I’m looking for specific advice. I’ve usually identified a problem and know it needs to be fixed, but can’t (or don’t want to spend the time to) fix it. So, I turn to the experts for the ‘how’ questions.
- patience
- intelligence
- expertise
- expressive
Feedback Team
These people are a source of complete honesty. Finding people who do a good job of critiquing is difficult and I always worry that they are being overly kind. I don’t need (much) kindness here, I just need brutal honesty.
- honesty
- high standards
- expertise
- assertive
- dialogue
- expressive
Cheerleading Team
I do also need a group of people who will be out there for me cheering me on. In a business sense, I’m thinking specifically of an agent.
- energy
- optimism
- faith
- extrovert
- assertive
- kindness
- intelligence
- expertise
*Because I’m a stubborn, proud, perfectionist type of person. It isn’t that other people aren’t good enough, but I need to know that I can do it well enough for my own standards.
**I LOVE learning about different cultures, religions, beliefs, traditions, jobs, topics, etc. Even just diversity of appearance or hearing different languages is fodder for my imagination. This is why I love living in an area where we have such high diversity!
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12 comments:
I love that you broke it down to different teams of functionality. I notice a few characteristics in common with a few of the groups. :)
I totally understand the need to work with a team and yet apart. It makes sense even though it sounds like a paradox. :)
This is a great post. I, like you like to work alone creatively, so I was sorta stuck with this chapter.
I love how you included cheerleaders, and feedback, who are a part of it all, even when we are working alone creatively.
Way to go!
I too like to do the 'meat and bones' of the actual project myself but like you, Jennerosity, I enjoy the inspiration that comes with interaction with all of the groups you've lined out. Diversity, friends, new souls into the circle all get my juices flowing and this immersion is essential to the outcome of my work . . . whether I realize it or not!
--etherealSuz
That's really clever to see the need for the different characteristics in different roles. Very inspiring.
What a great list. I too prefer to work alone but when I work within a group I am so inspired and always leave feeling better about having done it.
I think dividing it up into different teams is a great idea!
I like how you broke down all the aspects of your dream team into smaller teams. Great bunch of teams and their qualities, nice way to approach this chapter.
Interesting way to respond to this chapter. Your lists give food for thought. I like the way your blog is set up, too.
This is really great! :)
I know what you mean about needing support but also needing to be independent in terms of my work. That is something that I am constantly struggling to try and keep in some kind of balance!
Thanks for your thoughts... and your lists!
Very helpful!
Love this post, as we have so much in common in the way we see things. I, too, like to work alone, but I acknowledge that my creation is never really all my own, as I am influenced by so many others in the process. I really liked how you broke down your dream team into smaller teams, by function. Great idea! I may have to revisit my own needs in these terms.
Thanks for a thought provoking post.
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