Author(s): Leigh Thompson

Business

Think of your to-do list at work. Chances are the most important activities on that list require you to work with others to accomplish. And the success of those endeavors--whether you're innovating a new product or implementing an important customer service initiative--depends on the effectiveness of your collaboration. The fact is, collaboration that is conscious, planned, and shared with others builds excitement and produces what Leigh Thompson calls a creative conspiracy. And research shows that teams that engage in creative conspiracy are the hallmark of the most successful organizations.
In "Creative Conspiracy," Leigh Thompson reveals the keys to successful teamwork that produces results. She also reveals a host of counterintuitive findings, like:
- Left to their own devices, teams are less creative than individuals
- Teams that have "no rules" are less creative than those who have rules
- Striving for quality results in less creativity than striving for quantity
- The presence of newcomers enhances the creativity of "old-timers"
- Teams who act in a pro-self fashion are more creative than those who act in a pro-social fashion
- Most companies routinely violate the 4 cardinal rules of brainstorming
- Most leaders cannot articulate the 4 rules of brainstorming
In the book, Thompson brings together serious research, powerful examples, and concise takeaways to reveal the core expertise required to operationalize the new mandate of successful collaboration and team effectiveness. "Creative Conspiracy" challenges managers and leaders like yourself to adopt some unconventional, and downright blasphemous, best practices.