Spring, 1967 – Abbey Road, Studio Two
As even casual Beatles fans know, Paul McCartney’s lyrics lean towards glass-half full optimism: “It’s getting better all the time,” “I’ll follow the sun,” and “We can work it out!”
Paul supplied an upbeat, hopeful spirit to the greatest selling band of all time. John Lennon, on the other hand, had a cynical streak.
We see this contrast in a McCartney recording studio anecdote from March 9, 1967. It was the first day recording “Getting Better”, the band’s fourth track on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
McCartney recalls: “I was sitting there doing, ‘getting better all the time’ and John just said in his laconic way, ‘It couldn’t get no worse’ and I thought, ‘Oh, brilliant!’ This is exactly why I love writing with John…It was one of the ways we’d write. I’d have the song quite mapped out and he’d come in with a counter-melody…”
Paul sang, “It’s getting better.” John sang, “It couldn’t get no worse.”
The yin and the yang. Partly sunny and partly cloudy. Jab, Hook, Repeat. Collaboration at its finest.
Want to boost your collaboration to Fab Four levels?
Here’s how.
Image Credit: Chelsam – Getty Images
Sharing Made Easy
The first step to attaining Beatles-level collaboration is creative transparency.
Lennon shares his “it couldn’t get much worse” suggestion with Paul immediately. There’s no hesitation, no agonizing self-editing. He can do this because he and his writing partner trust and value each other.
They both know their combined efforts are superior than their individual efforts.
Likewise, Paul embraces it immediately. There’s no holding back on a line or a riff. The opportunity to create something unique is right now.
Consider your own workplace. Is it hindered by costly information silos?
Chances are, at least in some areas, the answer is yes.
We’ve all been there. The information hoarding colleague or department who treats every batch of data like an Enigma worthy invasion memo.
These silos cripple progress and kill collaboration.
Meanwhile, a local competitor practices creative transparency. It’s not perfect. In fact, it’s often pretty messy. Yet, this transparency—earned through mutual trust—fosters superior teamwork and better results.
Every. Time.
Paul and John could each write a fine song on their own. However, together, they made magic.
While creative transparency is the first step towards Beatles-esque collaboration, it can’t happen without the next element…
Confidence
Imagine if Paul had rejected John’s contribution and said, “Wait! Stop. John, this is my song. I’m in charge here. Go tune your guitar, mate. I’ve got this.”
You might end up with a decent song, but you would lose the ingenious McCartney/Lennon lyrical interplay.
In contrast, each musician’s confidence in his own talent feeds their ability to collaborate effectively.
True confidence is neither arrogant nor prideful. In fact, true confidence flows from intentionally growing our natural talents and forging them into true strengths.
Do you have a project that’s stalled lately?
Consider how you and your teammates can shift more of your time and focus towards your strengths. This simple but effective act will give you more confidence in your own abilities.
Then, by combining our own unique contributions with a creative transparency mindset, we open the door for superior collaboration results.
Courage
Finally, Beatles-level collaboration takes courage.
You have to risk—time, ideas, energy, compassion and genuine interest in the other person—in order to gain access to the potential of good collaboration.
Yet, you may have some colleagues who insist on being less than courageous. They stay in the background when things are rough, but jump to the front when everything’s great.
As Prime Minister Indira Ghandi said, “You can not shake hands with a clenched fist.”
Real courage is two open hands.
Two hands that accept each other’s differences and apply those differences to create something better.
A sum that’s greater than the individual parts.
One melody: “I’ve got to admit it’s getting better.”
One backing harmony: “It couldn’t get no worse.”
Image Credit: Chris Dorney – Getty Images
The Solution
2018 marks the 51st anniversary of The Beatles’ ground-breaking eighth studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
As you reflect on the incredible partnership that spawned this masterpiece, consider your own approach to collaboration.
Transparency. Confidence. Courage.
Go to work today with a newfound sense of humility and openness.
Have the confidence to open up and allow room for another person’s ideas to flourish.
Step into a courageous day filled with opportunities to share and learn.
Your co-workers and your team won’t just thank you, they’ll begin delivering superior results. Results that emerge from a truer, higher form of collaboration.
As Sir Paul McCartney might say, “Brilliant.”
Cheers,
DW
Need a jolt from Liverpool’s own? Enjoy The Beatles last live performance from the top of Apple Studios.
If you enjoyed this post, please drop me a line at hello@strengthslauncher.com. I’d love to connect and hear your story.
Share this Post