Nick Jankel, creator of weCreate, the peer-to-peer learning toolkit recently hosted a workshop on Collaboration for A-Frame members.

He has developed the idea that we all have a Collaboration IQ, much like Emotional Intelligence, and describes it as “the intelligence and mindsets that allow people to co-create and co-develop successful projects – across silos, sectors and structures – without wasting scant time, energy and resources.”

Nick described the challenges of collaboration (whether in a working, or a personal, relationship) as a huge opportunity for growth.  But rather than your Collaboration IQ being set in stone, we can enhance it with new approaches and importantly, by learning more about ourselves – our strengths as well as our failings.

It is in this space that we often come up against our egos, but by becoming more aware of our sometimes unhelpful patterns of behaviour, we can better respond to challenges that inevitably come with working together, and reap the rewards of more successful collaborations.

We particularly liked Nick’s presentation of four major archetypes which describe the best we can be as well as the flipside, which is what we can turn into (if we’re not careful) when the going gets tough!

• The Leader – The Teenager
• The Builder – The Saboteur
• The Peacemaker – The Opportunist
• The Champion – The Victim

[Show as slideshow]

Many thanks to Nick Jankel for sharing his slides.   For more information please visit www.wecreate.cc

The workshop was well attended and evidently very helpful for A-Frame members who reported:

” I found it hugely beneficial to gain relevant training and network with my peers across different industries that I would not normally have access to… Within my role, 99% of my work relates to ‘collaborations’; both external and internal so it was highly appropriate and gave me a great insight into new approaches and the opportunity to learn from others.”

“The workshop was very valuable was for me because I often work in collaboration with designers and event companies. It allowed me to really understand the importance of communication to enhance mutual understanding to get the best effect.”