Cooperation according to Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin knows a thing or two about cooperation. In 2007, he was called "the most important producer of the last 20 years" by MTV and was named on Time's list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".

Rubin has produced hit records for artists like The Beastie Boys, Geto Boys, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Danzig, System of a Down, Metallica, Slayer, The Cult, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Strokes, Weezer, Johnny Cash, and The Chicks. I highly recommend his Hulu special with Paul McCartney too.

Rubin’s debut book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, was published in January 2023 and is currently the third most popular book on Amazon. I’m listening to the audiobook and have ordered a hardcover version to refer back to.

Communication is the core of skillful cooperation

I want to share his section on cooperation because it perfectly fits into my Nice Method section about Hearing Your Team. He begins the chapter by reminding aspiring leaders that competition serves the ego and that cooperation supports the highest outcome.

Rubin continues, “Communication is the core of skillful cooperation. When giving feedback, don’t make it personal. Always comment on the work itself and not the individual who made it. If a participant takes the critique personally, they tend to shut down.

Be as specific as possible with your feedback. Zoom in to discuss the details of what you’re seeing and feeling. The more clinical the feedback, the better it will be received. Saying, “I think the colors in these two areas don’t interact well together is more helpful than, I don’t like the colors.” Hold back on offering a fix immediately; the recipient may be able to come up with a better solution on their own. 

When receiving feedback, a useful practice is to repeat back the information you heard. You may find that what you heard isn’t what was said, and what was said may not even be what was actually meant. Ask questions to gain clarity.”

The Creative Act is chock-full of helpful and inspiring passages for any professional creative. I believe the book is as essential for aspiring and seasoned leaders, which is why I’m sharing this little section with you here. Buy this book.