It is impossible to read each other’s minds, so the only way to co-create is by having everyone explicate what is on their mind. This requires a lot of communication; talking, writing, presenting, and so forth.

However, language is a poor means to develop something new. Words, by their very nature, categorize what is known already, rather than enable to describe something new. For example, start-ups tend to discuss their ideas referring to other famous companies, like ‘we will be the Airbnb for home restaurants’. 

We resort to meetings and calls to co-create because many of us expect too much from verbal communication. As such, we overlook the qualities of objects and representations. Sketches, models, and prototypes enable us to think collectively, even when language is faltering. Some of these objects and sketches become central elements in the co-creation processes: boundary objects (Carlile 2002, Star & Griesemer 1989).

"If a picture is worth a thousand words, a prototype is worth 1000 meetings"  Tom & David Kelley, IDEO

Boundary objects are objects that are observable by many team members, plastic enough to adapt to be used by different members, yet robust enough to maintain a common identity. The word ‘boundary’ refers to the boundaries people experience with others. As we all have distinctive jargon, backgrounds, and concerns, this sometimes disables us to understand each other. These objects span these boundaries, often representing the work of most involved some way or other and enables to reflect. The best example of a boundary object is a prototype.

Exercise: how do you communicate?

This is an insightful exercise; there are no right or wrong questions. Just select which answers you personally would choose and then click on the blue arrow at the bottom of the exercise to get to the next question. The 'Check' button is only useful with the last question, there you get some extra information.

The goal of this exercise is to become aware of your preferred style of communicating with others, and the way you like to be informed. Many of us rely heavily on textual and verbal information but are unaware of how easily it can be misinterpreted. For co-creation, textual and verbal communication is inadequate.  

---

References

• Carlile, P. R. (2002). A pragmatic view of knowledge and boundaries: Boundary objects in new product development. Organization science, 13(4), 442-455.