Most of the time, if you ask someone this question, they’re instantly going to say they want to work with a collaborator. It feels like the right answer, like what they’re supposed to say. However, for some personality types, they actually need someone to just execute on their ideas without a lot of pushback; but it’s hard to be honest enough with themselves to realize it. Let’s explore the differences…
Working with a Collaborator
Collaboration and execution go hand-in-hand, but in that order. You work on an idea with someone to come to an agreed upon conclusion that suits your needs, and then the person you hired executes on that idea for you (typically).
Collaboration can also look like a brainstorming session, bouncing ideas off one another, and leveraging each other’s knowledge and experience to build something new, exciting, bold, and suitable for the need and the market.
Working with an Executor
Asking someone to execute on an idea, dictating how you want it completed and what the final product should look like is different - there’s no additional input or deviation from the original idea that you (as the boss or client) originally came up with.
Most of the time, the idea person in this scenario knows all the details of what they want, even though they may not communicate them well.
How do I know who I want to work with?
Just ask yourself one question: would I be okay with the person I’m working with pushing back on my idea? If the answer is no - and you have to be really honest with yourself to decide - then you’re looking for an executor. You want to control (be a dictator, negative connotations aside) the details to a project that you either don’t have the time or the knowledge to complete, and have someone do it for you, exactly to your specifications.
That’s not a bad thing, if you realize that going in. It can also, ultimately, save you some money. Hiring someone to just do what you need them to do is easy - that type of person is typically a junior level employee who’s still learning the ropes. They essentially don’t know enough to push back, and they’ll take all the experience they can get in real world situations to become a senior level expert.
Hiring a collaborator is different. They’re someone who is typically more advanced in their skills, and who can leverage their life experience, education, and training to help you get to an end result you would have a hard time getting to on your own. Convincing a collaborative personality to just execute on something for you without bringing in their own expertise is difficult, though. They’ll likely be dissatisfied in their role working with you, and can quickly become resentful.
The Fine Line Difference
In every collaboration, especially that of a client/consultant relationship, someone has to be in charge (typically the person doing the hiring) and have the final say.
Some would say that is them “dictating” what they need “executed,” and they’d be right.
The difference is that before they say “go” on an idea, they’ve been presented and weighed the options on the best way to get to the end result, and 99% of the time, it’s different from where they’ve started. The boss in the situation has come to the table with an idea and they’ve allowed the collaborator to help them fine tune it.
Why is the difference important?
Having enough self-awareness to know what kind of person you want to work with can save time, money, and energy for both you and the person you hire.
In the design and marketing space, hiring someone to build a creative output for you and telling them, “I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it,” is a huge red flag - designers know this phrase will result in lots of revisions and frustrations, with them ultimately creating something they’re not proud of but that made you happy. (It’s also a quick indicator that you’re actually looking for an executor, not a collaborator.)
How to Find the Right Person to Fit Your Style
It is / can be really simple:
Determine what type of person you’re looking for - an executor or a collaborator
Look for someone with the right skillset for your needs
Go into the initial conversation being upfront and honest with your style. When they ask you how they can help, don’t be afraid to say something like, “I’m looking for someone to (execute/collaborate) on an idea (for/with) me.”
If you're excited about collaborating with a professional on your next project - let's chat about it! Schedule your absolutely free Idea-to-Execution Consult using the calendar below!
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