Collaborative Intelligence by Dawna Markova & Angie McArthur
“Collaborative Intelligence” is a practical guide to understanding how we think, communicate, and collaborate. Written by Dawna Markova and Angie McArthur, the book explores how unique thinking patterns can be harnessed for better teamwork, communication, and leadership. It introduces strategies to improve collaboration by recognizing and valuing cognitive diversity—helping readers foster more effective interactions at work and in life.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Team leaders seeking to boost collaboration and productivity.
- HR professionals designing inclusive and effective work environments.
- Educators looking to support diverse learning styles.
- Individuals frustrated with unproductive meetings or miscommunication.
- Anyone eager to understand and optimize their thinking style.
Top 3 Key Insights
- Everyone has a unique “mind pattern” shaped by attention styles and perceptual preferences.
- Collaboration thrives when we value different cognitive styles instead of suppressing them.
- Productive communication requires adapting to how others best receive and process information.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Attention Has Three Modes: We use focused, sorting, and open attention depending on context. Most productivity models favor focused attention, but all three are essential for well-rounded thinking.
- Know Your Cognitive Style: Recognizing your brain’s thinking preference—analytical, procedural, relational, or innovative—helps you understand your strengths and blind spots.
- Articulate Your Thinking Talents: Everyone has unique thinking talents, such as creating order or inspiring others. Recognizing and voicing them allows for better team alignment and contribution.
- Ask the Right Questions: Strategic, open-ended questions—especially success-oriented or intentional ones—stimulate insight, learning, and collaboration.
The Book in 1 Sentence
A guide to understanding how diverse thinking styles can strengthen communication, teamwork, and innovation in a connected world.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
“Collaborative Intelligence” offers a roadmap for harnessing cognitive diversity to foster stronger collaboration. The authors argue that each person has a distinct mind pattern shaped by attention styles (focused, sorting, open) and perceptual preferences (visual, auditory, kinesthetic). Understanding these differences can transform how teams communicate and work together. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the book encourages readers to embrace thinking diversity, ask better questions, and recognize their cognitive strengths. With practical tips on communication, leadership, and decision-making, this book helps readers navigate complex group dynamics and build more productive, inclusive environments.
The Book Summary in 7 Minutes
Collaboration is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s essential. But true collaboration goes beyond just working together—it demands deep understanding of how people think, communicate, and solve problems differently.
Understanding the Shift: From Market-Share to Mind-Share
We live in a world where success has shifted from owning assets to sharing ideas. Traditional competition-focused environments are being replaced by ones where collective knowledge and cooperation lead to innovation. This is the essence of the mind-share economy.
In such an environment, suppressing differing views weakens teams. Instead, collaboration becomes a matter of integrating diverse perspectives and talents.
The Three Forms of Attention
Focused Attention
This narrows down to a single task or thought. It’s essential for deep work but can be limiting if overused.
Sorting Attention
This involves toggling between internal and external thoughts to organize information. It’s crucial for weighing options and making decisions.
Open Attention
This is a broad, relaxed focus that supports creativity and brainstorming. Often overlooked, it’s vital for generating new ideas.
Each of us shifts between these three types daily. Balancing them appropriately can lead to more effective thinking and collaboration.
H3: The Role of Perceptual Preferences
People absorb information differently—visually, kinesthetically, or auditorily. These channels affect how we focus, sort, and open our attention. By understanding our own and others’ preferences, we communicate more clearly and effectively.
Mind Patterns and How They Affect Collaboration
Each person operates through a unique blend of attention forms and sensory preferences. This creates six mind patterns.
For example:
| Mind Pattern | Strength | Struggle |
|---|---|---|
| Visual-Focused | Great visual memory | May daydream |
| Auditory-Sorting | Strong verbal logic | May overtalk |
| Kinesthetic-Open | Deep emotional insight | May seem distracted |
Understanding these patterns can help teams reduce miscommunication and support one another’s thinking process.
Thinking Talents—Your Natural Strengths
We each possess five out of 35 possible thinking talents. These talents shape how we contribute to a group.
Examples include:
| Talent | Description |
|---|---|
| Creating Order | Organizes complexity clearly |
| Taking Charge | Inspires action and leads confidently |
| Creating Intimacy | Builds trust and connection easily |
Recognizing your own talents helps you speak up about your needs and contribute meaningfully to team goals. It also stops you from wasting energy trying to “fix” your weaknesses.
Cognitive Styles and Team Dynamics
Ned Hermann outlined four brain-based cognitive styles:
| Hemisphere | Cognitive Style | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Analytical | Data, logic |
| Left | Procedural | Operations, structure |
| Right | Relational | Emotions, people |
| Right | Innovative | Strategy, vision |
Most people favor one or two styles. Understanding your own—and your team’s—can help assign roles effectively. A team of innovators may have lots of ideas but struggle to implement them without a procedural thinker.
H3: Powerful Questions Fuel Collaboration
Strategic questioning is a central tool for collaborative intelligence.
- Success-Oriented Questions: Focus on past wins. Example: “What worked last time we faced a similar challenge?”
- Intentional Questions: Highlight priorities. Example: “What matters most in this moment?”
These questions clarify thinking, surface insights, and energize teams.
Adjusting Communication Based on Mind Patterns
Recognize how your team members think and adjust your communication accordingly.
For example:
- Visual thinkers may prefer diagrams or sketches.
- Auditory people might benefit from verbal summaries.
- Kinesthetic learners might need hands-on tasks or movement.
You can even build strategies into meetings:
- Use whiteboards for kinesthetic minds.
- Insert silent reflection time for open attention types.
- Allow walk-and-talk meetings for sorting attention.
Embracing Uncertainty and Growth
People with a fixed mindset avoid admitting what they don’t know. Collaborative intelligence promotes a growth mindset where learning through failure is valued.
The best collaborators ask questions and embrace not knowing. Curiosity sparks creativity and deeper understanding.
Creating Shared Focus
To foster group flow, align everyone’s attention.
Acknowledge different contributions. Celebrate various talents. Let people choose how they focus—through movement, silence, or conversation.
The result? Meetings become more focused. Contributions become more valuable. And the group moves forward together.
About the Author
Dawna Markova was a cognitive psychologist, researcher, and internationally respected thought leader in learning and perception. Known for her deep insights into the nature of attention and human intelligence, she authored multiple books on thinking patterns, including the bestseller I Will Not Die an Unlived Life. She spent decades helping organizations and individuals embrace more collaborative and inclusive ways of thinking.
Angie McArthur is a communication strategist and co-founder of SmartWired. She has worked extensively with global organizations to improve teamwork, leadership, and decision-making through better understanding of thinking styles. Her collaboration with Markova reflects a shared passion for helping people bridge cognitive differences to achieve better outcomes.
How to Get the Best of the Book
To gain the most from “Collaborative Intelligence,” take time to identify your mind pattern. Reflect on your thinking talents. Use the practical tools to enhance your communication with others. The key is consistent self-observation and small experiments in adapting your style.
Conclusion
“Collaborative Intelligence” invites you to rethink how you think—and how others do too. It encourages connection over competition and clarity over confusion. If you’re ready to make meetings more meaningful and teams more united, this book offers a thoughtful, practical path forward.
