The Power of Co-Creation
I love co-creation. I love being the least talented person in the room. I like to see inside of people's brains. How do you talk? How do you view the world? If I'm writing for another artist, I'm becoming this channel, this vessel for how you speak. I'm in complete service mode.
R&B singer/songwriter Muni Long was Grammy-nominated this year for best new artist, R&B performance, and best R&B song—she won for best R&B performance. Long has written songs for Pitbull, Keisha, and Rihanna. What stood out in a recent New York Times interview about her musical journey was Long’s quote above—a beautiful framing of what it means to bring creative energies together. Being in service to each other through co-creation is the recognition that we each contribute a vital part of making something elegant and meaningful.
In improvisational moments, a jazz ensemble is the epitome of co-creation. When each musician solos, they’re offering passion, skill, and joy in service to their fellow band members and their audience. One of the powerful things about the Jazz Leadership Project work that Greg and I do is how we co-create. We are intentional about making time for what we call “flow sessions”—at least two or three times a week. Most often the sessions start with a query that sparks a generative exchange that brings revelations about the direction we need to take.
The arts are not the only place where these synergistic connections can flow. This is one of the reasons why we believe that the principles and practices of jazz music can be translated to the world of business to great effect.
Bosun Tijani—seen directly above—is Founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), Africa’s first and largest open living lab and pre-incubation innovation hub. Since its founding in 2010, CcHub has purposefully identified and supported people with the ideas and talent to shape society—technologists, social entrepreneurs, government, tech companies, and impact investors. Using what he calls a human-centered design approach, Tijani says that knowledge is embedded in the web of relationships that provide ways to move past legacy systems and to create a new society. CcHub’s culture is about problem-solving—using the power of people, technology, and science to bring change to Nigeria. When he was asked in an interview about CcHub’s strength, Tijani responded: “Putting society first.” CcHub, home to more than 50 Nigerian startups, has launched an investment arm and accelerator program for entrepreneurs. It has also established partnerships with Google and Facebook.
We the Humans is the title on CcHub’s about us page, which displays all sixty-six shining faces of CcHub’s team. The programs they've created in health, education, governance and digital security, and innovation and technology, are termed Our Expressions. Through CcHub, Tajani has created a channel, a vessel for those he says may be perceived as unlikely leaders, but who add value toward effecting social change.
Co-creation empowers us to relate in new ways.
The potency of co-creation is the depth it allows us to dive into, knowing that we are buoyed by the recognition and support of others.
Co-creation energizes novel thinking and grander visions.
Co-creation is a blending of values that stimulates meaningful exchange and connection.
Embracing co-creation moves us from a very individualistic, “I'm in competition with everyone around me to get ahead,” headspace to a mindset of collaborative harmony. Co-creation is a conscious expression of valuing another.
