Collaboration Moves

“Deliver a Masterpiece”

In the realm of music, Daniel Lanois stands as a legendary figure whose influence spans over four decades. While his name might not be immediately recognizable to all, his impact on the industry is profound. As a producer, Lanois has lent his talents to iconic albums by artists such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, and The Neville Brothers. Yet, perhaps his most celebrated collaboration was with the legendary band U2, co-producing landmark albums like “The Unforgettable Fire” and “The Joshua Tree.”

Recently, a friend shared a video interview of Lanois discussing the making of U2’s groundbreaking album, “Achtung Baby.” In the interview, Lanois exudes humility as he reflects on the creative process behind the album. His simple yet profound philosophy on his role as a producer struck a chord with me: “Listen, man, when I go in the studio, it’s head down, get the job done, be creative, support the house philosophy, obey the house rules, deliver a masterpiece, and get on with your life.”

Lanois’ words resonate far beyond the realm of music production. They speak to the essence of leadership—of guiding, supporting, and inspiring others to achieve greatness. Just as Lanois supported U2 in creating a masterpiece, leaders in education must foster an environment where every member of the community can contribute their unique gifts towards a shared vision of excellence.

True collaboration goes beyond mere lip service. It requires leaders to tune into the strengths of those they serve and to relentlessly invite everyone to share their gifts. This means moving beyond the superficialities of titles and status and embracing a genuine appreciation for the diverse talents within the organization. By doing this we help to nurture a culture abounding with a sense of belonging and psychological safety.

As leaders, we must cultivate a culture of collective efficacy—one where every individual feels valued and empowered to make a meaningful contribution. Just as Lanois stepped aside to let U2’s vision shine, leaders must remove barriers and facilitate the emergence of greatness within their teams. Lanois’ move was a true leadership move. He put his ego aside in service of supporting the band’s vision.

Authentic collaboration, grounded in a deep appreciation for the strengths of others, is the key to creating masterpieces in education. By shifting our mindset from mere task delegation to the intentional celebration of each individual’s gifts, we can elevate our schools and districts to new heights of excellence.

Let us heed the wisdom of Daniel Lanois and strive to deliver masterpieces in our own realms of leadership. Let us keep our heads down, focus on the work, but also hold them high to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of others. Together, we can create timeless works of art that positively impact the lives of students and educators for generations to come. Who knows? With dedication, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, we may just produce our own “Achtung Baby.”

4 Leadership Moves for Nurturing Collaboration

1. Individual Strength Scouting Walks: Visit classrooms and learning spaces without an evaluative lens. Spend time in these spaces with the intention of finding strengths in the people you serve. Take note of these strengths and curate a list for future reference. It’s always important to leave a note of gratitude for that teacher and cite a specific strength you experienced being demonstrated.

2. Strength-Based Follow Up: Take a couple of minutes and invite conversation with that teacher. Share the specific strengths and gifts you witnessed. A conversation filled with warmth and support from the leader goes a long way in building psychological safety for others.

3. Team Strength Scouting Walks: What if the school leader inviting others to join in Strength Scouting Walks? You can really shift the mindset on classroom walkthroughs and instructional rounds by encouraging others to join you in finding strengths in action in the schoolhouse.

4. Strengths Curation: There are many tools out there to survey staff on their individual strengths. Using Gallup’s Strengths Finder or Patrick Lencioni’s The Six Types of Working Genuis are great resources to curate the strengths of everyone in the schoolhouse and district. School leaders can follow-up with team-based activities to curate the strengths of the entire faculty and have a resource for others to refer to when building efforts for collective efficacy.

You can view the interview with Daniel Lanois here: