Design Thinking + Inclusion: Let’s talk numbers

In the previous articles on inclusive collaboration, we covered the difference between collaboration and its almost, but not quite, twin: validation. We also walked through a couple of great tools to incorporate into your collaboration efforts. If you haven’t yet, check out the first three articles in this series about the tools you need to help you and your team move from validation to real, inclusive collaboration here.

Here’s the fourth tool to help you and your team move from validation to real, inclusive collaboration:

Ok - I get it, talking about money is hard. But it’s even harder for folks who need it the most, have the least institutional power, and who consider collaboration a good professional opportunity. 

Refer back to the Power Meter and start an honest conversation about what the cost of everyone’s time is. There’s no cool, handy little tool to spark this conversation, it’s just as simple as sending out an email with the words:

“We’re so happy you’ll be joining us for this collaborative session/process. We value your time, expertise and experience and want to compensate you properly. We have X (monetary amount), and X (non-monetary compensation) in our budget for your time and expertise. Will this be sufficient?”

So if the message above doesn’t sound quite your speed, but you still want to open up this conversation, we’re going to break down the critical elements of this process… ok so I lied, there is a cool handy little tool!

It's important to understand that offering compensation is not just a show of good faith, but a valuing of folks time, labour, expertise and experience. So low balling for the sake of saving a dollar or two should never be an option. 

Check back next week for more tips on how to be inclusive and collaborative, and be sure to check out my workshop for more information on how you can take your vision for inclusivity from ideas to action.

Thanks to the folks who attended the Ottawa Impact Hub session on collaborating towards tackling the Sustainable Development Goals for sparking this series!