The other day I was having lunch with a friend who works in the technology industry,  and he said something that has really been working me.  He was talking about how the mobile device industry is headed to a place where we will have one separate device that interfaces, or talks with, with all of our other electronics. I think most of us would not see this as startling news. Our current “cell phones” are already there in a lot of ways.  It was his next statement that caught my ear the most.  He said, “Since the devices need to talk with each other, the people who make them need to be able to talk with each other. “

One never knows where the lesson around collaboration may come from. Since our mobile devices need the ability to talk with each other, it would be helpful if we facilitated “their” need to communicate with each other, by having the humans talk with each other.  Ok.  As a former therapist, when folks would come to visit me around the need for change, I learned to go through any open door they were willing to give me. If the open door for better communication and collaboration in the workplace is driven by our devices need to talk with each other – I am in.

I just find it interesting that machines are inspiring this new collaboration. And in some ways this is not new. One of the best examples of workplace collaboration is the building of the international space station. Having worked with folks in the aerospace industry, I have heard great stories about what it takes to communicate and collaborate across so many countries and industries. When we find a reason to do so, we humans can figure out how to communicate in order to align and integrate our efforts.

So, we seem to have the ability to communicate and collaborate about how to build things together. It appears that we could leverage this skill in other areas also if we chose to do so. I have a few global concerns that could use this skill set and I imagine that you do also. Can we talk?