Vulnerability in Collaboration
We’ve been thinking a lot about the power of Collaborative Leadership (an unsurprisingly shameless plug there!) and what it means to us at Next Leadership. We get to work with some wonderful co-creators and co-producers, so we invited one of our partner organisations Equipact Consulting led by Chabu Chipampe and Chris Hyliger to reflect on the importance of collaboration particularly with Racial Justice Sunday in view (marked on 11 February 2024). The following are a few of their thoughts.
Vulnerability in Collaboration
When interviewed about the film ‘The Kitchen’ which he directed and co-wrote, Daniel Kaluuya described a moment in his writing process where his confidence was waning. With fears he wasn't any good at putting the story together, he came to a pivotal point which he described in an interview with CBS Mornings.
‘You have this fear of being rubbish… The realisation is that you have to be rubbish, it’s literally part of the process and you just keep going….’
‘The pivot was, I'm not trying to be good, or great, I am trying to be honest.’
While this is a seemingly simple statement and concept, when creating for others to view and/or judge, the reality is, it is a much harder approach to be honest and open than it is to be good. Being good depends on the metrics being used and who is telling the concluding story. This can often be done in a way that prioritises optics and self preservation. Being honest on the other hand, requires a stripping away of gimmicks and telling a story that is representative of the whole picture, not just the parts that look most favourable.
From an EDI standpoint, many individuals and organisations have chosen to prioritise self preservation and optics over honest storytelling. You need only to read Susy Ndaruhutse’s previous blog post to get a greater understanding of what that looks like. The problem with this approach is that it is concerned with self. It is selective and puts image before impact which eventually creates greater challenges in the long term.
For individuals and organisations who are seeking to be inclusive and equitable in their approach, Vulnerability in Collaboration is essential.
This is the practice of seeking out a range of contributions and contributors to deliver impact through joint effort. However, this has to be done through an openness and receptiveness to discovering weaknesses and need for improvement. It requires a posture of humility, intentionality and an unrelenting pursuit of a collaborative culture which is able to give way to a more representative story.
This can be daunting but vulnerability fosters trust, empathy and authentic connection, not only among collaborators but also the intended audience. This honest openness creates safe spaces for voices that are often marginalised to be heard and valued, dismantling power dynamics that often silence them.
Equipact Consulting, in partnership with Next Leadership, has been developing the second stage of the Collaborative Leadership Programme. The learning journey equips leaders to recognise and utilise a collaborative approach, establishing inclusive and intercultural mindsets and strategies. This journey not only enables leaders with practical tools to deliver impact, it creates space for their own transformative journey. To find out more and download the free Collaborative Leadership Toolkit, click here.
As Daniel Kaluuya’s storytelling was transformed through his desire to be honest, let’s also prioritise honesty, vulnerability and collaboration. In doing so, we will not only experience transformation as individuals but for our organisations and places of influence.
