Steve

After the client asked us to move things a little to the left, Steve and I had to figure out how to implement that change. We had different ideas about how to proceed, which is one of the reasons I love working with Steve.

Steve is a fellow stoneworker who runs his own business, like I do. From time to time, we team up to tackle bigger projects. This kind of collaboration is common in stonework these days. Many of us prefer staying small because managing large teams or building big companies would pull us away from the hands-on work we love. At the same time, stonework is labor-intensive, and sometimes you need extra hands to get the job done.

But working with Steve isn’t just about having an extra set of hands. It’s about having another sharp mind on the project. He’s laid more stones on this wall than I have and built its most prominent features. That alone makes his contribution invaluable. But it’s more than that:

I trust his opinions. I want to hear his ideas.

When I work on other people’s projects, I aim to be the kind of collaborator I’d want on my job site. I show up and do the work. But, if I’m honest, I don’t feel as fully engaged when I’m not on the hook for the outcome. The responsibility of solving creative problems and owning the vision is what makes me feel truly invested.

I want Steve to feel that kind of ownership too, at least as much as possible when it’s not his own project. It makes the work better. And selfishly, I hope it makes him more likely to join me on the next project.

One way to encourage that, other than bribing him with donuts and breakfast sandwiches, is by creating a space where he feels comfortable voicing his ideas. That doesn’t mean every idea will make the cut, but every idea deserves to be heard.

Steve and I had differing ideas about how to implement the client’s change to the layout of this unique wall. We talked it through. As I had done with the client, I listened fully to Steve’s idea. I visualized it in my mind. I thought about how it would ripple through the rest of the project. I held it up against my own idea. And then I trusted my gut.

My gut said to go with Steve’s idea.

This sounds simple, but collaboration rarely is. It’s natural to want your idea to win or to hold back when you’re competing with more confident voices. And then there’s the power dynamic. It’s my project. I designed it. I’m writing the checks. The final result, good or bad, rests on my shoulders.

Collaboration requires navigating egos, power dynamics, and the courage to trust other voices—or stand firm when necessary. I’m still learning how to do this.

How do you approach collaboration on your projects? Does it always go smoothly?