How to Instantly Boost your Creativity by Collaborating
A few weeks back I discussed the FKA Twigs x Nike collaboration and I was happy to see that so many of you appreciated their joint creative vision. Today let’s delve deeper into exactly how you can instantly boost your creativity by collaborating.
There are so many ways you can connect with people to make a lasting impact. Still, there isn’t much point in collaborating if you aren’t aware of how it can benefit you. As creatives, we can be so passionate about our ideas and that’s an asset. Taking pride and ownership of your unique talents and thoughts is essential to your success.
The downside of being that way is that it can be hard to let go of some of that creative control. When you partner with someone whether it’s a big brand, a small shop or a one woman show you automatically give up your vision.
Why? It’s simple. When you work within a team you have to cater to everyone’s opinions not just your own. So whatever vision you had when it was just a solo endeavor will without a doubt be altered.
That’s not as bad as it might initially sound. After all, humans are social creatures. We ultimately thrive off the energy and output of others. (Click to tweet) When you come together you have the potential to instantly boost your creativity and take it to the next level. If you’re nervous to work with others don’t worry, but the end of this you’ll know exactly what’s in it for you and how to do it!
New Ideas
When you work with someone else the main benefit is that you’ll have easy access to new material. Sometimes, when you work alone you can get tunnel vision and run the risk of becoming tone-deaf.
For instance, you can come up with a “great idea” only to realize after you’ve already worked on it that someone else just did the same thing. You could also create something not realizing that it’s offensive to another culture or that your imagery is riddled with innuendos.
When you look at the same thing for an extended period of time it’s not hard to miss something that a fresh pair of eyes will immediately catch.
Contrasting Ideas
This may not seem like a plus but trust me it is! The fastest way to boost your creativity is to intake contrasting and oppositional views. You may not love every idea that your partner comes up with but somewhere in there is a good concept.
Both of you may need to compromise and make concessions but as long as you stay on the same page you’ll be successful. Put your ego aside and focus on the project at hand. If you do that, you’ll be able to discover new angles you might have never thought of otherwise.
Of course, not every partnership goes as planned and if it feels like your giving and conceding more than the other party then it’s time to leave. It’s not a real partnership if only one person is calling the shots.
New routine
Changing up your workflow is another way to boost your creativity. When you get used to producing content in a certain way by default you also get used to thinking of content in that same way.
This can lead to that tunnel vision I mentioned earlier. Anything that makes you comfortable and at ease for an extended period of time is bound to also make you complacent. (Click to tweet) Be on the look out for this and when you feel yourself hitting a plateau take note and make a change.
A new routine is a great way to shake things up and introduce you to new stimulation. By working with someone you end up incorporating and accommodating some of their working styles into your own. This is something that you can take with you long after the collaboration is over.
New Challenges
I hinted at this earlier but not every collaboration goes well. When that happens you may be tempted to throw up your hands and run for the hills. In some cases, I would advise that you do just that! Still, when working with someone new, or even working with the same person on a new task, challenges can arise.
When this happens you could just claim that it was all a waste of time and nothing was gained. That’s hardly ever true. Even when it doesn’t work you still learn something from it. You become more aware of how you prefer to work, the type of person you prefer to work with, and what your overall expectations are for any given partnership.
Once you have clear boundaries set you’ll be able to just get to work and let the creativity flow!
Personal Growth from failures & success
Now let’s say that your collaboration goes swimmingly. You’ve found a wonderful person or brand to work with and each side is pulling their weight. This does not guarantee that whatever it is that you’re working on will be a hit.
However, you can be sure that you will have grown from it in one way or another. Maybe your partner introduced you to a philosophy or maybe you learned a new software or skill. If you don’t know very many people who are knowledgeable and interested in your passion – you now have a friend! If you never had any experience collaborating – you now do!
Collaboration cheat sheet
Collaborations can be daunting at first. You might not know how to approach people or what to do once you’ve initially reached out. I’ve worked with many creatives through features, interviews, and sponsored content both on and off Violet Roots.
Not every partnership goes well but the ones that do make all those icky moments in between more than worth it. Ultimately it’s a two-way street and you have to be willing to bend a little. Just make sure that you keep your integrity intact and no matter what challenges come your way you’ll always learn, grow and boost your creativity in the process.
To give you a head start on your next (or first) collaboration I’ve included a cheat sheet of 50 Collaboration Ideas! They can be used for any industry and any medium. Sign up and grab or cheat sheet today!
How do you boost your creativity? What have you gained from collaborating?