There are many sayings about the exponential energy and power of people collaborating on a concept, business or project.  I love that the complexion of business is changing - bringing in more of the feminine power of collaboration.  Is it time to ask yourself where in your business or life you could benefit from collaboration?

The definition of collaboration from Wikipedia is "...where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals..."  Collaboratively building on each other's creativity, wisdom and enthusiasm is not only exciting, powerful and speeds up our ability to manifest - it's also more fun!  The Internet is a great example of a tool that facilitates collaboration.   Adding intuition into the collaboration mix adds even more power.  Just like the Internet, our intuition also allows us to access more information. 

Using Your Intuitive Guidance System to Navigate Collaboration Opportunities

One of the most important elements of collaboration is deciding with whom and when to collaborate.  In addition to using your logical reasoning, remember to also incorporate your intuitive guidance system in your choices to collaborate.  If an opportunity to collaborate with someone comes up - besides doing your homework about the viability of the idea - stop and pay attention to your intuition.  Close your eyes and hold the collaboration opportunity in your mind while you check in with your body.  Does your body feel relaxed, excited, enthusiastic? - Signs to move ahead.  Or does the idea make you uncomfortable, does your gut clench or do you feel anxious? - Signs that the opportunity may not be right for you.  If it doesn't feel right in your body, delve a bit deeper...  As you continue to hold the opportunity in your mind, ask the following questions one at a time and pay attention to how your body feels.  Is this the optimal person for this collaboration?  Is this the optimal time for this collaboration?  For those of you who are more visual, close your eyes and imagine a stop light and observe for each question whether you see a green light (yes, proceed), yellow light (proceed with caution), or red light (no).

The key to using your intuition to help you know when - and with whom - to collaborate is to:

1. Ask - Ask your questions one at a time so you know which one is being answered
2. Listen - Stop and pay attention so you can receive your answers
3. Act - If your intuition tells you yes, then move forward.  If your intuition tells you maybe, then do more research before you move forward.  If your intuition tells you no, then it's not the right opportunity for you, not the right person or not the right timing - so act accordingly.

An Example of Intuitive Collaboration

Recently I needed a graphic artist to create a new logo, business card and website header. I reached out to friends for the names of graphic artists they know and as I did my (left brain) research, I realized that one particular person kept coming to mind - especially once I read on her web site about her process.   As I read about her collaborative process, it felt right in my mind and my body.  As I shopped around, I kept returning to Tania von Allmen's web site www.luminositystudio.com.  Other graphic artists wanted thousands of dollars and up to 4 to 6 weeks turnaround based on multiple iterations of going back and forth telling them about your business and them coming back with a draft logo for you to look and give feedback.  That was more than I wanted to spend, longer than I wanted to wait, and the back and forth process felt like an old model.  Tania's process is entirely collaborative - drawing out the essence of your business and products or services - and representing it in graphical form within a few hours in an intuitive, co-creative process where you walk away with your results.  You actually create it together, right on the spot!  It was such a fun process and I love my new graphics (thanks Tania!).  That's a great example of intuitive collaboration.

Incorporating your intuitive guidance system with collaboration raises your creativity to a whole new level.

Great Ways to Tap into the Power of Collaboration

·        Join or start a Mastermind group - many successful people say that this is one of the keys to their success

·        Collaborate with a mentor or coach

·        Get together with like minded people to collaborate on advancing an interest or cause

·        Develop a Circle of Influence or resource network with others that offer complimentary products or services to yours, and collaborate on ways to bring additional value to your clients by offering additional resources