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As you may have noticed from even a casual reading of my blog, I’m fascinated by the subject of collaboration. Not only is it the current big topic in the business world, it’s at least a significant key to the next level of efficiency, productivity – well, you name it. So far, most of what I’ve read on collaboration has to do with how to plan for it, how to build it, how to encourage it, how to reward it – in other words, how to institutionalize it.

But collaboration can occur without actually being planned (that noise you hear is the collective groans of a million consultants.) Shocking, I know, but check out this short entry from the Australian blog Anecdote. Quoted from the transcript of a Margaret Wheatley forum, it recounts the story about the decision and the process of safely landing every single aircraft flying in U.S. airspace during the opening hours of the 911 crisis. Here’s what I think is the heart of this story:

“Later, they realized that the reason they succeeded was the strength of their relationships. They trusted each other as they were communicating across the country. There was a real esprit [dé corps]; they were smart. They could make new policies. They could make up rules that worked in the moment.”

Note that key elements – the things that make collaboration work – are all present: trust, communication, community and intelligence (in the sense of wisdom or experience). And, it wasn’t that there was a lack of planning – it was just that there was no plan for this. But they did it, and did it well.

So the question is, can any group of people be expected to collaborate well when the chips are down? Well, call me crazy, but I think the answer is yes, if the conditions are right. The key to success is building into the group those elements noted above. Naturally it’s harder when the group members are spread apart geographically, but any organization that promotes these (let’s go ahead and call them values, shall we?) will lay the groundwork for successful internal collaboration.

What about other examples when collaboration “just happened”? What were the results? How did you feel? Let’s hear some war stories from readers!

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Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to sit back, relax, and enjoy another exciting edition of… OOB!

FREE Directory Assistance

Next time you need directory assistance, dial 1-800-FREE411, and avoid those pesky charges. Read the comments here. Supposedly works with all cell phones and land lines.

When The “Are You Sure?” Dialog Box Is Truly Scary

Seen on the New Scientist website:

The Mozilla Thunderbird email program offered Angela Brown the option: ‘Restore natural order’. “Will selecting it just sort my messages”, she asks, “or will it reset the entire universe?”

Time Travel Explained… Finally!

For this response to the question (posted on askMetafilter), “Can someone please explain to me in very basic terms the modern understanding of black holes and worm holes as a conceivable means of space/time travel?”, the “Best Answer” award goes to Metafilter member Orb2069:

From a 100-level science overview course I took last semester:

That “Special” Place

With wormhole travel out, you may have look a little closer (planet Earth) for that unique, special place you can call your own. Well, ya gotta check out this place! By the way, should you decide to buy, you’ll be in famous company - Richard Branson (yes, that guy) already owns one. I wonder if he’ll install a spaceport in his back yard?

And Finally…

Over on What’s Next blog, here’s a list of the Top Six Reasons You Should Vote For John Seminerio, who apparently is trying to win the Outdoor Channel’s Win Your Own Fishing Show.

Anyone else besides me wonder about an apparent conflict between #2 and #3?

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Jeff Thull’s article, Beyond the Elevator Pitch: A High-Credibility Conversation gives some tips on crafting that dreaded “elevator pitch” (also known as the “30-second commercial”). Many of us know from personal experience how difficult it can be to actually create a good summary of ourselves and what we offer that is content-filled, relevant, and attention-getting. And of course there’s the other side of the coin as well – actually using it in the field. The challenge, as Jeff points out, is establishing both trust and credibility within an extremely short time.

The key is to turn the situation around and focus on the prospect’s world. Now maybe this seems elementary to some, but the fact is, most of us aren’t good at it – we need to get better.

“Consider that initial moment of contact. It must be carefully prepared, highly relevant, and thoroughly rehearsed. Here is an example of the format:

We work with companies that are facing escalating manufacturing costs and are looking at the possibilities of outsourcing. We help them analyze the risks and potential benefits of outsourcing and have the capabilities to provide the manufacturing services if their situation points to that as a best alternative.

This takes roughly 20 seconds to say, but it covers a lot of ground. Let’s break the statements down:

We work with companies that are facing escalating manufacturing costs and are looking at the possibilities of outsourcing – speaks to relevance and positioning. You describe who you are by the type of company you serve and a major symptom it might be experiencing. The customer now knows who you are and should be thinking “That’s sounds like me.”

We help them analyze the risks and potential benefits of outsourcing… – we now introduce more specific relevance via the concern they would typically be struggling with. Notice the balance of analyzing the “risks and potential benefits.”

…and have the capabilities to provide the manufacturing services if their situation points to that as a best alternative – more relevance. Here we state the value we can provide.

As you can see, this really isn’t a pitch in the conventional sense. There is actually a dialogue taking place within this short monologue. You’re speaking, but the customer is replying silently and agreeing in his mind that about experiencing the problems you are describing.”

In summary, establishing relevance is how we establish trust. And without trust, there can be no meaningful connection!

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Further thoughts about yesterday’s pithy subject…

First of all, I can’t help but remember a line from a 1983 Bill Cosby concert, “Himself”, while expounding on the irrationality of drug use:

I said to a guy, “Tell me, what is it about cocaine that makes it so wonderful,” and he said, “Because it intensifies your personality.” I said, “Yes, but what if you’re an asshole?”

Since by general concensus the “unintentional” type is worth our forgiveness, patience, and understanding, then it follows that we should make the effort to determine the difference prior to simply reacting. Let me illustrate with something that recently happened to Mrs. MZM.

While at the local grocery deli counter, she encountered a clerk whose actions were, shall we say, “less than stellar” (we’re talking ‘WAY less). Mrs. MZM could have immediately responded accordingly, but instead, God bless her, she asked the man in a kind voice, “Are you having a bad day?”

The man looked abashed, and replied, “Yes, I am. Things are not going well for me right now.”

Mrs. MZM was then able share a few kind words with him and immediately he perked up and began to help her with a completely different attitude. A few well-chosen words made all the difference! This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened, and each time, she purposely chose NOT to simply react. Each time, she was rewarded.

So the “action item” is this: Before making an assumption about which category a person falls into, at least try to find out if there’s something else going on. Perhaps, just perhaps, you’ve encountered an “unintentional”. Instead of reacting to them, a few well-chosen words may just help them snap out of it.

Just that easy, and you’ve made the world a better place!

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Bob Sutton in his blog yesterday talks more in depth about something I brought up in a previous post, and I think the subject is worth revisiting. The subject is (let’s see – how can we put this delicately?) assholes. Author of the No Asshole Rule, Bob was able to collect “field research” during a talk at IDEO.

Now, I know we’ve all had our first-hand experiences with this type of person, but it’s enlightening to see some research being done on the subject.

The general consensus of his audience was that of the two types, “unintentional” and “intentional”, only the former are worth our forgiveness, patience or understanding. Sounds right to me, too, Bob.

The next theme was in defining exactly what was meant by the term. Although admittedly a bit fuzzy on this one, I like his conclusion: “Drawing the firm dividing line between an “asshole” and a “non-asshole” isn’t easy, but I know one when I see one.”

How do we know? He addresses that in a third theme, with what I think may be the definitive test: “I still believe that the ways a person treats powerless people is an excellent test of human character.”

To put it bluntly, the message is this:

If you are one, then not only do YOU know who you are, but we ALL know who you are!

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The first item in the “Recent Research” column from the Summer 2006 Strategy+Business Magazine (free registration) notes a Harvard Business Review working paper that addresses a growing situation with potentially global impact.

The blurb, appropriately titled “AARP University”, starts this way:

“A survey of 50- to 70-year-old Americans found that more than half wanted, after their primary career ended, to dedicate their time to national or community service. But for most senior citizens, there are few opportunities to do so, and their years of experience are ignored and rejected by societies enamored with youth.”

HBR authors Kanter, Khurana & Nohria recommend (and will even offer in 2007) a new level of higher education geared specifically toward seniors, specifically designed for those who now have the time and resources to get involved, but who may be lacking in ideas, knowledge or skills to pursue new goals. The idea is to provide a “think-tank”-like institution that serves as an idea incubator in order to focus on global challenges.

While I disagree there are “few opportunities” for seniors to participate - opportunities are plentiful, you just have to know where to look – kudos to the Harvard Business School for recognizing a need and doing something about it!

The implications are exciting don’t you think? Just imagine aggregating all those years of experience from virtually every field; turning their accumulated knowledge into an innovation engine, one that can focus on those large, difficult challenges we humans face every day. Think of the potential for innovation! This, after all, is what collaboration is all about.

It’s like creating a really big brain! But I wonder – where will you find a hat that big?

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Can you quantify the effect of “Word of Mouth”? Maybe you can.

Alain Thys over at Marketing Profs has come up with a workable formula that may help quantify the value of word of mouth effects on markets. A short but interesting read that may have wide implications for nearly everyone.

OK, OK, I can hear already hear the chorus of voices out there saying, “Who cares? After all, I’m not in marketing.” Well, my answer to you is two little words:

You are!

“Word of Mouth”, in my opinion, affects practically everything. Are you a job seeker? What about if you have an innovative idea? Looking for venture capital? Want your New Year’s Eve party to be the best ever? All of the above, and more, can benefit from a good “buzz”.

Getting people talking is a good thing, but don’t forget, it needs be the right kind of buzz. Take what steps you can now to manage the buzz about whatever YOU want to accomplish (you might want to review some of my previous posts on managing your internet presence).

The fact is, virtually ANY endeavor requires support from other people. In many cases, the more support, the more likely it is realized. No matter how good it is, without a huge amount of the right kind of buzz, NO endeavor succeeds. Manufacturers, marketers and people in the business world know this well. Remember the Sony BETA? New Coke vs. Classic?

Face it: you want something to happen? Start a buzz!

You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!