How Collaboration Makes Us All Better Creators
Creative work can feel personal, sometimes too personal. When you’re designing, writing, or building something from scratch, it’s easy to believe you need to have all the answers, carry all the ideas, and deliver something brilliant on your own. But here’s what I’ve come to realize: The best work rarely happens in isolation. It happens in collaboration.
And not just any kind of collaboration–the messy, honest, idea-passing, “What if we tried this instead?” kind. The kind where a teammate sees something you didn’t or says something that makes the whole project click. The kind where you’re open to having your favorite idea challenged, because deep down you know the goal isn’t just your best… it’s the best for the project, the client, the audience. And sometimes it’s the kind where you share a canvas with a bunch of strangers to see what happens.
Over the years, I’ve worked with talented teammates, curious clients, and even non-marketers who offered input that completely changed my perspective (and vice versa). Sometimes it was a color or image suggestion. Sometimes it was asking, “Would this work on mobile?” Sometimes it was just an outside voice pointing out a missing piece. Each moment reminds me: I don’t have to do it all alone and I shouldn’t (something I really need to remind myself lately.)
Collaboration makes us braver. It makes our work stronger. And it reminds us that creativity isn’t a solo pursuit…it’s a team sport (and my team knows how much I love sportsball references). The more we share, listen, challenge, and support, the more we grow and not just as professionals, but as humans. So next time you feel stuck or unsure, try inviting someone in. Not for approval, but for perspective. You might be surprised at what you create… together.
About the Author: Pam Nikolai is the Senior Visual & Web Creator on the Exclamation Marketing team. Pam is also a volunteer enrichment creating extraordinaire for Wildwood Zoo and enjoys nature, traveling, & artsy fun.