The Collaborative Mind
Cindy Chastain and Kip VoytekTEDxOttowa December 6, 2009
and then we . .
We read and write about it . . .
weasel wordshave emotional throw weightsound importantalmost demand acclamation…but means nothing
we need it for survival
allows us to do things better
cooperation to collaboration
pleasure of critique
reverent iconoclasm
cognitive empathy
centrifugal mind
pleasure of critique
embrace your own ignorance
and discomfor
t
“The core skill of innovators is error
recovery, not failure avoidance.”
Randy NelsonPixar University
go forth actively looking for the holes
and have fun while you’re at it...
separate yourself from the work
show often/show early
want to contribute, not own
learn to be a good critic
reverent iconoclasm
first principles inspire
atoms and molecules
“Bird liked to take one tune and play it for a couple of hours. Then he would know
every nook and cranny of the melody and the chords. He was very scientific about
those things....”
Always approach the rules with
Devotion and Heresy
Going deep (in a reasonable time)
Expose your biases
Teach/write about your discipline
Invite heresy
cognitive empathy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/
concrete cognitive components
Categories & Cell Units
Altitudes
Rhythms
Metaphors & Frameworks
Getting into other people’s heads
Do different things (for even a day)
Follow the brain health trends
Read memoirs/bios of different people
Be curious when you see passion
exhibit Bexhibit A
centrifugal
centripetal
centrifugal thinking…
=
no ready answers?
“more patient, less deliberate modes of mind are particularly suited to making sense of situations that are intricate, shadowy or ill-defined.”
not knowing = opportunity
no starting point
listening to what’s there
building on what’s given
Improv
has no fear in exploring the outer regions of possibility
derives insight from multiple sources
is purely in the moment
the centrifugal mind…
seeks a clear path to solutions
looks for ways to align/recombine
is critical/reflective in its approach
the centripetal mind…
Devotion
Advocacy
Hammer
Centrifugal
Heresy
Critique
Nail
Centripetal
“The hedgehog knows one big thing, the fox knows many things.”
- Archilochus
The Twitter/140 Version
To get the most out of working with the rich diversity of talent around - to collaborate - be
nimble, be foxy.
(110 characters, room to RT)