My internal alarms started going off when I began to notice the dynamics among the people in our collaboration session—the first of several that were scheduled. They were defensive: they would speak up to a point and then fall silent, or they might share ideas but not fully commit to supporting them. Even more revealing was the tendency to be agreeable during a meeting, only to completely reverse their stance afterwards.

It felt as though they were protecting their position, their turf, or what they believed they owned.

True collaboration is about exploration, pushing boundaries, and moving beyond our preconceived notions and existing limits. It’s about entering territories where new ideas can be openly discussed, explored, and potentially shaped into innovative concepts. It’s about creating something that transcends the usual boundaries and control mechanisms.

In my experience, some organizations collaborate effectively while others fall short. For those who aim to collaborate successfully, the key lies in helping people to blur the lines between their established knowledge areas. We must focus on cultivating an environment where ideas flow freely, and individual ownership gives way to collective creation. It’s about fostering trust and openness, so that collaboration becomes a conduit for innovation rather than another trap where potential growth stalls.