Collaboration by Design
I have a long track record in complex project delivery, and even if I’m now more selective with projects I lead, I still enjoy using those skills to help a few extraordinary people deliver on their most ambitious ideas. In 2017 I accepted to project manage the writing of a book, the first book by my friends, and former colleagues at wheretofromhere?, Philippe Coullomb and Charles Collingwood-Boots. I knew Philippe and Charles were master of their craft, the design and facilitation of large complex workshops, and I was convinced that they had a great book in them to share with the growing community of designers and facilitators in the world. Almost a year later, holding the Collaboration by Design book in my hands, I have to admit that they didn’t disappoint. The book is a must read and, as the tagline says, a fantastic “guide for creating more value when bringing people together.”
It was my first-time project managing the writing of a book and I enjoyed it immensely. I liked the challenge to create the right context for Philippe, Charles and co-author John Hibble to “just write this book”, while avoiding the anxiety of the blank page. There were many more contributors involved in the process, and my role was also to get them to the expected outcome. Along the way I learnt a lot about collaborative writing, editing, graphic design, illustration, publishing, printing, marketing a book, etc. from the various talented partners we worked with.
