The Language of Collaboration
Three phrases that promote effective collaboration
Successful collaboration begins with the ability of individuals in a group to:
Share a common understanding of the problem
Collectively identify workable ideas for a solution
Riff on each other’s ideas to refine and enhance the solution
Language is our primary tool of communication - does it impact how we collaborate?
The hypothesis of linguistic relativity states that the structure and usage of language influence thought and behavior. We intuitively understand that our choice of words directly impacts the listener. What the linguistic relativity hypothesis implies is that the choice of words impacts both the speaker and the listener.
It would be beneficial to use linguistic relativity to our advantage. Choosing the right set of words and phrases could create a space for effective collaboration. Here are three phrases that have worked amazingly well for me:
"How might we"
A core element of Design Thinking, "how might we...?" is a carefully constructed phrase used to define a problem statement.
"How" makes it action-oriented and suggests we don't have the answers yet. It also allows us to consider multiple approaches, as there are often multiple 'correct' ways to solve a problem.
"Might" emphasizes optimism and open-mindedness. It lets us consider more difficult options, which is often where innovation lies.
"We" enforces collaboration and teamwork. It creates alignment and ownership between individuals and welcomes everyone into the process as equals.
The main pitfall when defining a problem statement is to suggest the solution as part of it, closing the door to exploration and unexpected outcomes.
Examples:
(bad) How might we design a better cordless vacuum cleaner?
(good) How might we design an appliance to clean the floor effectively with minimal effort?
The first phrasing will get you exactly what you asked for - a better cordless vacuum cleaner. The second phrasing might lead you to the same outcome - a better cordless vacuum cleaner - but it might also result in a wi-fi enabled auto-charging robot!
"What if"
"What if" can be used in multiple ways, and in different situations. For our collaboration purpose, I'll review its use as a suppositional question.
Consider this phrase:
"What if X were to be true, would you consider Y?"
...where X is a presumption, and Y is the idea to be considered.
We often fail to explore an idea because of a rudimentary disagreement about the underlying presumptions. While we do need to settle disagreements about the presumptions, it might be worthwhile to first explore the idea more objectively. The "what if" phrasing helps to short-circuit any disagreement about the presumptions, thus allowing for an exploratory mindset.
Example:
"What if it's true that majority of our business comes from new customers, would you consider offering discounts to repeat customers?"
"Yes, and"
"Yes, and" is a frequently used tool in improv comedy - it is a way to agree with the other person, and add more information along the same direction. This short video demonstrates the concept:
When it comes to collaboration, "yes, and" is the antidote to "no, but". At times, an idea needs to be fleshed out to its logical end before considering its merits and demerits. Our instinct to say "no, but" at the very outset could potentially nip a compelling idea in the bud. "Yes, and" is a powerful tool for exploring an idea to its fullest potential, before determining whether to pursue it or not.
Let's map these phrases to the ingredients for successful collaboration that I mentioned at the top:
Share a common understanding of the problem -> "how might we"
Collectively identify workable ideas for a solution -> "what if"
Riff on each other’s ideas to refine and enhance the solution -> "yes, and"
TOOLSHED
Click here for a worksheet from Stanford University for strategies to develop compelling "how might we" questions.
AROUND THE WEB
Ted Talk "How language shapes the way we think" by Lera Boroditsky:
"It's about how you think. It's about how the language you speak shapes the way you think. It gives you the opportunity to ask why do I think the way that I do. How could I think differently? And also, what thoughts do I wish to create?