The Co-creation Ecosystem for Hybrid Work Teams

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In today’s podcast episode we interview Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson, Co-Founders of BraveCore. Today’s topics are focused on discussing the origin story of their company, BraveCore, and the concept of co-creation. They delve into the challenges faced by companies with deeply established cultures and the need for innovation and collaboration to adapt and thrive. They also explore the key ingredients of a brain trust, including transparency and amplifying the voices of those willing to co-create. Finally, they share their definitions of being a brave leader, emphasizing the importance of facing fear and taking risks which will help guide team members as we Team Anywhere.

BraveCore Origin Story

Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson created BraveCore to bring a new concept to the business world. They wanted to create a company that focused on co-creation, the possibility of building something together with intention. They had both been successful in their respective careers but felt that the traditional notions of business and work culture didn’t align with what they wanted to accomplish in their lives. They built out a world and brought it to a Marvel artist, who was blown away and validated their ideas. They realized there was power in not just having great ideas, but co-creating those ideas and building them together. They then sought to bring the notion of co-creation to the world through their book, Brave Together, which outlines principles for building and shaping culture through intentional co-creation. They beta-tested these principles at Apple and in healthcare settings, with positive results.

The Co-Creation Ecosystem

Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson discuss the concept of co-creation in an organizational culture setting. Co-creation is the act of creating and building things together with intention–as opposed to traditional concepts of teamwork or collaboration which may be project-oriented or lack cohesive principles. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by companies with deeply established cultures that have grown quickly, and the need for innovation and collaboration to adapt and thrive. Clawson shares his experience working at Apple and the challenge he was presented with to help newer employees understand the company culture and brand, which led him to explore the concept of co-creation. Ultimately, co-creation offers a solution to addressing the gap between the creative side of business and the analytical, past-focused approach often taken by companies.

Key Ingredients of Brain Trust

Chris and Ian discussed the importance of creating a culture of transparency and co-creation in organizations. This approach was based on weekly meetings with representation from various departments, with egos off the table and building blocks on the table, could create a brain trust and take the organization to the next level. A further example of this was when they used this approach for the AirPods Pro product, which turned out to be a great product line. Chris and Ian stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of those who were willing to co-create and partner with them to solve problems. They also talked about the power of nature in creating an organic and innate culture, and how Ed Catmull and Pixar influenced the culture at Apple with the brain trust approach.

What it Takes to be a Brave Leader

Ian and Chris’ definitions of being brave emphasize the importance of facing fear and adversity. Ian’s definition highlights the idea of “doing what’s right, even if it’s scary,” indicating that bravery involves taking action despite feelings of fear or uncertainty. Chris’ definition centers around the idea of being “willing to take risks,” suggesting that bravery involves a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone and face potential danger or failure.

Both definitions highlight that bravery involves a certain level of courage and determination, as well as a willingness to face potential consequences or negative outcomes. Additionally, both definitions suggest that bravery is not necessarily the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act in the face of fear. Overall, Ian and Chris’ definitions offer valuable insights into what it means to be brave and how individuals can cultivate this quality in themselves.

Who is Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson?

Chris Deaver is a culture shaper. He’s influenced Fortune 500s from the inside. He has worked the dream at Apple and Disney, creating breakthrough content like Different Together and Collaboration by Design, working with inspiring teams that shaped iProducts and Star Wars experiences. Chris is co-Founder of BraveCore, a leadership consultancy shaping the future by helping leaders be more creative and creatives be better leaders. He’s a regular contributor to Fast Company, featured in The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, The Financial Times, Business Insider, The Economic Times, The Huffington Post, Fortune, The Washington Post, USA Today, Yahoo, Thrive Global, Influencive, Engadget, and CNET. He’s developed landmark studies of the most innovative teams, partnering with Stanford and Harvard professors.

Ian Clawson is co-Founder of BraveCore, co-host of the Lead with a Question podcast, and is a regular contributor to Fast Company. He’s had work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Influencive, Engadget, Disrupt Magazine, and CNET. Ian has led large teams and cultures through transformation with a background in Healthcare leadership. As an Administrator he oversaw a multi-million-dollar skilled nursing facility operation in Silicon Valley that helps the sick and elderly recover from challenges. Ian continues to advise startup founders and professionals contributing to 10x growth through leadership development and coaching. He has a past life in the field of marketing with the skillset of a copywriter and storyteller, having a passion for connecting products to consumers. He earned a degree at BYU-Hawaii in International Cultural Studies where he developed a high interest in World Philosophy and Communication Theory.