Technical communicators at all levels and in all settings need to work collaboratively. Whether you’re relatively new in your career or a seasoned professional, working as a lone writer/editor or leading a large department, you frequently will have to work on a cross-functional team where your success – and the success of your business – depends on collaborating with colleagues with varying backgrounds, skills and levels of expertise. What can technical communicators learn about collaboration from U2, The Beatles or Nirvana? A lot! This session will examine the song lyrics and stories of popular rock bands to learn how successful collaborators seek diverse perspectives, build trust, bust barriers, work their networks, manage conflict and, when their best-laid plans go astray, improvise.

1. @aiessamoyna
All I Know About Collaboration
I Learned from Rock & Roll
Aiessa Moyna
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2. @aiessamoyna
About Me …
• Veteran tech communicator in corporate, nonprofit, government
• Public affairs director at American Express
• Prior experience in technical writing/editing,
employee/leadership communications, media relations,
technical project rollouts
• B.S. in tech comm (NM Tech), M.A. in comm studies (UNLV)
• Long-time STC volunteer at all levels
• Former Society treasurer and board member
• Associate Fellow, DCSA winner, Sigma Tau Chi member
• Music lover, rock & roll fan
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3. @aiessamoyna
Overview
•Consequences of poor collaboration
•Benefits of strong collaboration
•5 lessons in collaboration from Rock & Roll
•Real-world applications, implications
•Q&A
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4. @aiessamoyna
Poor Collaboration
CHARACTERISTICS
•Slow
•Expensive
•Inefficient
•Wasteful
•Prone to mistakes
CONSEQUENCES
•Missed deadlines
•Disappointed
customers
•Brand damage
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5. @aiessamoyna
Strong Collaboration
CHARACTERISTICS
•Speed
•Cost effectiveness
•Efficiency
•Productivity
•Quality
BENEFITS
•Time-to-market
•Customer
satisfaction
•Brand reputation
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DISCLAIMER
“It’s still rock and roll to me.”
Billy Joel
Glass Houses (1980)

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Lesson 1
Seek Diverse Perspectives
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“Don’t surround yourself with
yourself.”
Yes
“I’ve Seen All Good People”
The Yes Album (1971)

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“Oh well, whatever, never mind.”
Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nevermind (1991)

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Seek Diverse Perspectives
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters (1995)

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Lesson 2
Build Trust and Bust Barriers
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“There is no them. There’s
only us.”
U2
“Invisible”
Songs of Innocence (2014)

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Build Trust and Bust Barriers
The Beatles
Let It Be (1970)

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“I fought the law and the law
won.”
The Clash
“I Fought the Law”
The Cost of Living (1979)

15. @aiessamoyna
Lesson 3
Work Your Network
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Work Your Network
Foo Fighters
Concrete and Gold (2017)

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Lesson 4
Manage Conflict
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“When Hell freezes over.”
Hell Freezes Over (1994)
The Eagles

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Manage Conflict
The Best of Both Worlds (2004)
Van Halen

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Lesson 5
When All Else Fails, Improvise
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Jam Bands
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Dave Matthews Band
Grateful Dead Phish
Blues Traveler

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When All Else Fails, Improvise
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Rock Hall Induction Ceremony

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Recap
•Lesson 1: Seek Diverse Perspectives
•Lesson 2: Build Trust and Bust Barriers
•Lesson 3: Work Your Network
•Lesson 4: Manage Conflict
•Lesson 5: When All Else Fails, Improvise
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24. @aiessamoyna
Q&A
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Wrapping Up
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“Livin’ on a Prayer”
Bon Jovi
Slippery When Wet (1986)

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“Welcome to the Jungle”
Guns N’ Roses
Appetite for Destruction
(1987)

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“Welcome to Paradise”
Green Day
Dookie (1994)

29. @aiessamoyna
References
• Armstrong, Billie Joe; Wright, Frank; and Pritchard, Mike. "Welcome to Paradise." Dookie (Reprise), 1994.
• Anderson, Jon, and Squire, Chris. “I've Seen All Good People.” The Yes Album (Atlantic), 1971.
• The Beatles. Let It Be (Apple), 1970.
• Bono. "Invisible." Songs of Innocence (Island), 2014.
• Campbell, Anita. “5 Benefits of Collaboration in Your Small Business.” Small Business Trends (16 January 2017). https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/01/benefits-of-collaboration-small-business.html.
• Cobain, Kurt; Novoselic, Krist; and Grohl, Dave. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind (DGC), 1991.
• Curtis, Sonny. "I Fought the Law." The Clash: The Cost of Living (CBS), 1979.
• Eagles. Hell Freezes Over (Geffen), 1994.
• Foo Fighters. Concrete and Gold (RCA/Roswell), 2017.
• Foo Fighters. Foo Fighters (Capitol/Roswell), 1995.
• Gallo, Amy. HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict (Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press), 2017.
• Gilmore, Mikal. "Why the Beatles Broke Up." Rolling Stone (3 September 2009) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/why-the-beatles-broke-up-20090903
• Joel, Billy. "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." Glass Houses (Columbia), 1980.
• Johnson, Stefanie K. “What 11 CEOs Have Learned About Championing Diversity.” Harvard Business Review (17 August 2017). https://hbr.org/2017/08/what-11-ceos-have-learned-about-championing-diversity
• Morgan, Jacob. “The 12 Habits of Highly Collaborative Organizations.” Forbes (30 July 2013). https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2013/07/30/the-12-habits-of-highly-collaborative-organizations/#31f5a8bb3683.
• Nixon, Natalie. “5 Reasons Why Collaboration Is Essential in Today’s Business Environment.” Inc. (15 August 2014). https://www.inc.com/natalie-nixon/5-reasons-why-collaboration-is-essential-in-today-s-business-environment.html.
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, OH). https://www.rockhall.com
• Sambora, Richard; Child, Desmond; and Bon Jovi, Jon. "Livin' On a Prayer." Slippery When Wet (Mercury/Vertigo), 1986.
• Slash; Stradlin, Izzy; McKagan, Duff; Adler, Steven; and Rose, W. Axl. "Welcome to the Jungle." Appetite for Destruction (Geffen), 1987.
• Van Halen. The Best of Both Worlds (Warner Brothers), 2004.
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30. @aiessamoyna
Thank you!
Check out my Collaboration Mix playlist
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