Analytic Learning From Children’s Television
On Sharing, Teamwork, Cooperation, and Collaboration
When I was young, I could count by twos and tie my shoes. Children’s television had a role to play in that. For avid readers, it is unlikely a surprise that I still remember so many songs from those days… and a new round when my own children were watching. So with that theme in mind, let’s explore some important learning from the world of children’s television — brought to you by the letter “I” and the number pi.
Sharing
Cookie Monster was never very good at sharing. Sadly, neither are far too many analysts. But sharing is important, geez — we live in a sharing economy now (whatever that really means…).
Actually Cookie had it harder. Sharing cookies is a zero sum game. It may make people happy with you, but in the end — you are giving away a cookie. Analysts need to share knowledge. And although knowledge is power, you don’t lose it by sharing it. Some analysts have much to learn here. If Cookie can learn, so should you.
Teamwork
What’s gonna work? Teamwork! It is an annoying and catchy little ditty. It is so true that you almost don’t mind how insidiously it burrows around in your ears. Note — I would add an audio clip but if you have never heard three digital baby animals sing this little mantra, I don’t want to be responsible for infecting you.
While their song may haunt you, the lesson is a good one. Analysts should ALWAYS work in teams. Two heads are better than one. So unless you are that purple two-headed monster from Sesame Street, a second set of eyes does wonders for accuracy, auditing, and perspective.
Next up is the power associated with division of labor. There are not too many children’s songs rocking that particular catch phrase, but the thought is embedded in so many other songs. It is really all about helping. If you are not the altruistic sort, just remember that teams allow specialization and specialization drives efficiency. Faster, better, cheaper! Now that should be a song!
Cooperation
Far be it from the writers of Sesame Street to be daunted by a five syllable word. Cooperation may be a bit sophisticated, but it reinforces the other lessons nicely. The song may be a little dated, but it is rather catchy. Dig it?
Collaboration
C is for … Cookie … not Collaboration. In fact, despite an eerie Rolodex (does anyone remember those?) of childhood memories and some time with Google, I couldn’t find a single song about collaboration. Shouldn’t that be part of the story?
IMHO — no. Collaboration isn’t good. It isn’t bad either. It is a technique, that sadly includes a lot of baggage. Sharing is always good, even if you have to give away your cookies. Teamwork is always good. Cooperation is always good. These concepts are important.
For whatever reason, collaboration just doesn’t resonate the same way. Which is why no one is singing about it… again, at least in my opinion.
Teamwork — is going to work. The chick and hamster told us so.
Cooperation — makes it happen. At least according to those 70’s street punks…
Collaboration — undermines leadership. True but not so catchy…
Collaboration — deflects accountability. Also true but, has too many syllables to boot.
Collaboration is what executives call for when they are afraid to assign direct accountability to anyone and really just hope the problem will fix itself.
Collaboration is the buzzword used when the vision isn’t clear enough to actually define a formal partnership with roles and responsibilities.
Collaboration is what you politic for when you don’t like the current assigned leader and seek to undermine their authority.
It is really a synonym for distributed leadership, which may be a reality but should never be a choice. It is more of a last resort. Those don’t tend to be song worthy, unless you are Papa Roach. Even then, NOT a children’s song.
While your organization may not suffer from these issues, it is unlikely that any of these assertions don’t resonate at least a little. Heck, even most collaborative software leaves you wondering if the developers understood the meaning. It does have two — one of which is punishable by death.
I encourage all analysts to work together, it is the definition of sharing, teamwork, and cooperation. It is supposed to be the definition of collaboration, too. But if Big Bird won’t sing about it, I would leave that word out of your vocabulary as well. Canned Heat did provide us with a work together song… one day some muppet is bound to sing it.
Thanks for reading.
