What does true collaboration feel like?

Most of us do not collaborate very much - not real collaboration. To me, collaboration is a process devoid of position power and any one person being in control.

The type of collaboration I find most fun is the "start from nothing/little" kind. Imagine a group of people getting together to create. No predefined parameters, no rules, no limitations on where the creation can go. I call this create from nothing/little because I have to acknowledge that we all come to conversations with preconceived notions, biases, and preferences. So we are never starting from nothing. But the creation conversation - the real collaboration does not start until everyone is together.

I want to do more collaboration. I spend a lot of time doing my own thing or partnering or consulting - very little time collaborating. In fact, I can't recall the last time I really collaborated with anyone.

Well that is about to change. I am involved in a cool project with four other people. We are all business management, OD or HR consultants. We are not close friends and, in fact, most have never met. We all love great business books - great books period - but see a lot of dribble on the bookstore shelves. In March, we are getting together for three days to create and to write a book (or begin the process). We have no idea what we will create. We are not sharing any ideas ahead of time. We are not bringing any half-baked ideas with us. The creation begins when we all arrive to the five-bedroom rental house on the shores of Puget Sound.

There is no way to even begin to predict what might happen. It's so intriguing - I can't wait. I look forward to having all my brain cells engaged and being involved with a smart group of people. No one's the leader. No one is calling the shots. We will do it all together.

I have done one day or half day create from nothing exercises before, but this is a first for me. What would happen if you tried this? With people at work? With your family? With professional acquaintances?

I will let you know how things go after our three day retreat!