Collaboration, as we often imagine it, is a noisy, chaotic activity. A group of people gathers in a room, ideas ricochet off walls, and somehow, consensus emerges. At least, that’s the theory. In practice, this model often leads to watered-down results—ideas that represent the least offensive compromises, shaped by the loudest voices in the room. The process leaves individuals disengaged and their unique contributions overlooked. But what if we redefined collaboration as a sequence of independent work punctuated by structured remixing?

This shift in perspective reframes what it means to collaborate, transforming it into something more inclusive, effective, and surprising.

The myth of real-time groupwork

Traditional collaboration assumes that innovation emerges from synchronous group activity. Picture the team-building exercise where participants work together to build a structure out of Legos. Inevitably, the loudest person dominates, dictating where the pieces go, while quieter members watch their ideas drown under the weight of groupthink. This isn’t collaboration; it’s creative conformity, where only one or two voices prevail and the rest retreat.

The problem lies in mistaking simultaneous action for collective genius. In reality, most people do their best thinking alone, where there’s space for deeper reflection and personal ingenuity. Trying to generate ideas as a group often leads to shallow solutions because the process privileges speed over depth and consensus over individuality.

Independent ideation, collective remix

Imagine this instead: a group of ten people is given a problem to solve. Each person works alone at first, generating 20 ideas without worrying about quality or feasibility. The aim is volume, not brilliance. Once everyone has completed this round of solitary work, they reconvene to share—not debate—their ideas. Each person selects the two ideas they find most promising, and a facilitator guides a discussion around patterns, surprises, and differences.

This isn’t the end of the process. Inspired by the group’s ideas, everyone returns to their desks to generate 20 more ideas. The second round is harder, but that’s the point: the challenge forces people to push past their obvious answers into uncharted territory, sparking unexpected creativity.

By the end, the team has not only hundreds of ideas but also a rich tapestry of perspectives, cross-functional insights, and connections they would never have arrived at in a traditional brainstorming session. This process acknowledges that collaboration is less about working simultaneously and more about creating opportunities for ideas to collide and evolve.

Why remixing works

This iterative approach works because it separates two often-conflicting activities: idea generation and evaluation. When we try to do both at once—as is typical in group brainstorming—the result is premature judgment. Ideas are shot down before they have a chance to take root, and the group gravitates toward safe, predictable outcomes.

By working independently, individuals can think freely, unencumbered by the fear of criticism or the pressure to conform. The subsequent remixing process brings these independent ideas into conversation with one another, allowing the group to uncover unexpected connections and generate richer solutions.

In this model, collaboration becomes a dance between solitude and community, where the best of individual thinking is amplified by the collective.

Building a better collaborative culture

Redefining collaboration requires more than just a new process; it demands a cultural shift. Organizations must move away from the myth of the charismatic group and toward a model that values independent thought as much as shared effort. This means creating spaces for uninterrupted work, designing meetings with clear facilitation, and fostering a culture that celebrates iteration over instant consensus.

True collaboration isn’t about everyone speaking at once. It’s about creating conditions where diverse voices can be heard, ideas can be tested and refined, and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

In this new model, the loudest voice doesn’t dictate the outcome. Instead, the quiet sparks of individual creativity ignite something much bigger when they’re brought together thoughtfully. The result? A collaboration that’s not just more effective, but more meaningful.