How Thomas Edison's system for collaboration can benefit any
team

Thomas Edison created multi-billion dollar industries that still
exist today. What many people don't realize is that his innovations
were generated through focused approaches to teamwork and
collaboration. Authored by the great grandniece of Thomas Edison,
Midnight Lunch provides an intriguing look at how to use
Edison's collaboration methods to strengthen live and virtual teams
today. Edison's four phases of collaboration success offer a simple
yet powerful way to see how different combinations of live and
digital resources can multiply results and deliver outstanding ROI
now.

* Shows how to draw together individuals from diverse
disciplines, ensuring multiple perspectives and rapid
problem-solving

* Explains how to mix specialists and generalists on the same
team, preventing groupthink and discouraging a culture of
"superstars"

* Reveals the steps needed to reskill team members for
collaboration in the digital era

Team members from any field can take Midnight Lunch to
their project meetings, engage instantly, identify action steps
based on the book, and generate high-impact results.

SARAH MILLER CALDICOTT is a great-grandniece of Thomas Edison, and a seasoned executive with years of hands-onexperience driving growth in new and existingbusinesses. Coauthor of Innovate Like Edison, a groundbreaking book on Thomas Edison's innovation best practices, Sarah inspires audiences around the world through her keynote speeches and executive programs on how to integrate Edison's Five Competencies of Innovation in organizations today. Sarah also advises leaders on how they can use Edison's time-tested methods to create a culture of innovation, as well as accelerate the development of individual and team capabilities that propel collaboration success.

Thomas Edison created multi-billion dollar industries that still exist today. What many people don't realize is that his innovations were generated through focused approaches to teamwork and collaboration. Authored by the great grandniece of Thomas Edison, Midnight Lunch provides an intriguing look at how to use Edison's collaboration methods to strengthen live and virtual teams today. Edison's four phases of collaboration success offer a simple yet powerful way to see how different combinations of live and digital resources can multiply results and deliver outstanding ROI now.

• Shows how to draw together individuals from diverse disciplines, ensuring multiple perspectives and rapid problem-solving
• Explains how to mix specialists and generalists on the same team, preventing groupthink and discouraging a culture of "superstars"
• Reveals the steps needed to reskill team members for collaboration in the digital era

Team members from any field can take Midnight Lunch to their project meetings, engage instantly, identify action steps based on the book, and generate high-impact results.

Foreword Matthew Greeley xi

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction xvii

Chapter 1 What Is True Collaboration? 1

Is It True Collaboration, or Is It a Team? 4

Team A versus Team B 5

Thomas Edison Mastered Collaboration as a Force for Success
12

Tracing Edison's Collaboration Beliefs and Practices
17

Edison's Four Phases of True Collaboration 18

True Collaboration Fosters a Growth Mindset: Balancing Learning
and Performance 25

True Collaboration Is a Superskill That Builds a New Type of
Knowledge Asset 32

Chapter 2 Why Is True Collaboration So Crucial Now? 35

Shift #1: The Rise in Complexity Due to Massive Generation of
Data and Real-Time Data Synthesis 40

Shift #2: The Rise of the Metalogue as a Tool for Creating
Purpose and Connection 47

Shift #3: The Need for Reskilling Workers in the Innovation Age
53

Chapter 3 Phase 1: Capacity--Creating the Foundations for
Collaboration to Thrive 57

Part i, Phase 1--Capacity 60

Part ii, Phase 1--Capacity 72

True Collaboration Toolkit: Hands-On Exercises--Phase 1
89

Chapter 4 Phase 2: Context--How Context Accelerates
Collaboration and Innovation 92

Part i, Phase 2: The Solo Meld 98

Part ii, Phase 2: Group Meld 119

True Collaboration Toolkit: Hands-On Exercises--Phase 2
146

Chapter 5 Phase 3: Coherence--Building Coherent Teams
150

Part i, Phase 3: Coherence 153

Part ii, Phase 3: Coherence 169

True Collaboration Toolkit: Hands-On Exercises--Phase 3
194

Chapter 6 Phase 4: Complexity--Forming Smart Layers and
Developing Collective Intelligence 198

Part i, Phase 4: Complex Systems and Smart Layers 202

Part ii, Phase 4: Footprinting Captures Collective Intelligence
237

Chapter 7 True Collaboration: A Look into the Future 250

Notes 255

About the Author 271

Index 273