How to Set the Stage for Impactful Co-Creation

Collaboration is when we come together and contribute our expertise for the benefit of a shared objective, project, or mission. Co-Creation is something different: It’s when we work together with other stakeholders to design new, innovative ideas and solutions, and often involves a cross-pollination of expertise and experience, creating the friction required for genuine innovation.

Co-Creation feeds into one of our basic human psychological needs: to connect with others and feel like part of something larger.?

Leaders often try to incentivise co-creation using extrinsic motivators – strategies such as financial incentives, training, or team-building exercises. And yet these strategies often fall flat. That’s because while human beings are social creatures and most of us believe in the power of co-creation, we also have different individual needs. Our own goals and desires often vary – not to mention our ways of thinking, communicating, and working.?

So while we might?intellectually?appreciate the benefits of co-creation, at a deeper level, we are often actually much more committed to achieving our own goals and desires.?

In other words, our ego gets in the way.

So, how do we enable teams and individuals to avoid this limited, ego-driven mindset? Canadian-based company Dynamic Achievement highlights?5 key aspects to creating the conditions for everyone to engage in co-creation:

1. The right mindset
2. A unifying purpose
3. Alignment of individual purpose and values with the company’s unifying purpose
4. A strong desire to be part of something bigger than themselves
5. The essential skills to engage in the practice of co-creation

They also identified what they view as the?10 principles of Co-Creation. As set out in their e-book?the Co-Creation Activator, the 10 principles are as follows:

How do you translate these principles into the lived experience of co-creation for your team or organization? Great question. It’s one that we’ll unpack in our?18/19 May live session with Author, Consultant and President of Organizational Culture and Performance at Dynamic Achievement,?Eitan Sharir.

Sign up to secure your spot at the live session?here!

Source: Eitan Sharir at Dynamic Achievement, 'The Co-Creation Activator', 2022.

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Our May focus at?Human Leaders?centres around collaboration and co-creation, helping Leaders to understand how they impact these and can unlock their teams full potential through Leading with a collaborative mindset.

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