Bubbles

Ideas are like bubbles and good collaboration takes place when we are making lots of them. Bubbles are neat to look at and distort the world around them just a bit. In fact they seem to produce color out of nothing and make the space around you feel like it is full of untapped energy. The problem with bubbles are that they can pop so easily. However, if you can create them quicker then they pop you start to collect a storm of bubbles. This is when attentive bubble makers and do something special.

When ideas first come together they seem a little awkward, like two bubbles that are stuck but clearly separated by a thin wall of soap floating along as one. Although these bubbles are "together" they are still quite separate. But two bubbles together presents a bigger target for other bubbles. Sometimes new bubbles will attache, other times older bubbles will pop, and still other times walls between bubbles will break down forming a larger, clearer, core bubble. This is the same way ideas behave in a good group dynamic. Ideas continue to join and adapt until they are all part of a bigger form.

My cohort has gotten good at blowing bubbles. We have reached the point where we realize we can create a bigger impact by patiently blowing bubbles together instead of trying to pop each others as they appear. This discipline has been helped by our group's "norms" and suggestions by people like Al Pittampalli. We read a portion of Al's book "Read this before our next meeting" which mentions 7 principles to keep in mind if you want to have good meetings:

1. Meet only to support a decision that has already been made.
2. Move fast. End on schedule.
3. Limit the number of attendees.
4. Reject the unprepared.
5. Produce committed action plans.
6. Refuse to be informational. Read the memo, it’s mandatory.
7. Work with brainstorms, not against them

Although some of Mr. Pittampalli's suggestions seem a bit like stern warnings, they all help foster productive meetings. His last principle: work with brainstorms, not against them has been the approach that has helped out group meetings fill up with bubbles. I feel like my cohort is now in place where we step in rhythm and build off each other easily. I look forward to seeing the bubble creations we come up with going forward.