Before I concisely discuss these two concepts, I would like to quickly draw your attention to the following question: What are the basic elements that allow people to work with each other?
Well,
according to scholars, teamwork and collaboration, combined with good
communication and sound problem solving skills could help different groups to
reach a common goal or to accomplish a given project in a timely fashion. It
sounds really doable, isn’t it, but despite its simplicity, lots of people,
more often than not, get stuck. Why? It is perception, it is misunderstanding, it
is ego, it is stubbornness, it is unrealistic expectations, or just bluntly speaking,
it is the lack of skills? Hard to assume.
Specifically
talking about collaboration, we
could state that’s a sound working practice that allows individuals to work
together toward a common goal in order to achieve a certain benefit.
Often, collaboration encourages people to think, and at the same time it allows them to articulate and gain clarity about their competencies. In many cases it serves as a mirror that gives them a glimpse at their strengths and weaknesses. To collaborate is to communicate! Trusting each other, understanding roles, and having in place an effective communication process are the key components of any group collaboration effort. What is clear, it is the fact that through collaboration people could easily learn from each other by sharing knowledge while finding out how the other collaborators are approaching their share of the project. Being collaborative means not just listening to other ideas, but really hearing them. Other important elements of collaboration are the following: have a common purpose or goal, trust each other, clarify roles from start, and communicate openly and effectively.
Often, collaboration encourages people to think, and at the same time it allows them to articulate and gain clarity about their competencies. In many cases it serves as a mirror that gives them a glimpse at their strengths and weaknesses. To collaborate is to communicate! Trusting each other, understanding roles, and having in place an effective communication process are the key components of any group collaboration effort. What is clear, it is the fact that through collaboration people could easily learn from each other by sharing knowledge while finding out how the other collaborators are approaching their share of the project. Being collaborative means not just listening to other ideas, but really hearing them. Other important elements of collaboration are the following: have a common purpose or goal, trust each other, clarify roles from start, and communicate openly and effectively.
In
this context, needless to say that roles are very important. As we all know, a
role is an action carried out by a member and each person who is part of the
team has a role in order to help the team achieve a particular objective. So, for
the purpose of coherence, it is crucial that each member of the team clearly
understands his or her role in the team and smoothly proceed with it. Aside of
that, getting things done the best way possible depends on how well each member
of the team receives and shares information with others. Poor listening skills
is a common problem among teams failing to execute a task. If you don’t listen
to each other and don't follow the plan in place things can take a different turn leading
to an undesired outcome, and team members may get confused or frustrated if
communication isn’t on point.
Effectiveness, productive collaboration, mutual respect, good listening skills, and the desire to be successful are significant aspects, which involve the entire
team.
Collaboration is the key to success!
On
the other hand, competition is
mostly based on rivalry, and it has been observed that on different degrees it is
part of life on this planet. According to Darwin’s evolution theory, “only the
strongest can survive”, but is this a good or a bad thing, is this healthy or
unhealthy?
Some people believe that competition could lead to innovation, but many studies reveal that seldom it brings out the best in people. Those who are competitive because they have to win at all costs often create more stress for themselves and for those they interact with.
Without any doubt, to an extent, healthy competition encourages people to become better versions of themselves, encouraging at the same time a certain level of creativity, but unhealthy competition always leads to embarrassment. Many times unhealthy competition destroys the real enjoyment of a given activity, makes it less creative because some people become way too worried about being the first, too stressed to smile, too anxious imposing on others, too apprehensive to properly communicate and too rigid to collaborate.
Generally speaking, competition is pretty ambiguous, yet from the life principles’ perspective it could be useful in some occasions, but when competition becomes the only moral rule of life then lots of problems would appear, starting with the depreciation of human soul and finishing with a low cultural level.
Some people believe that competition could lead to innovation, but many studies reveal that seldom it brings out the best in people. Those who are competitive because they have to win at all costs often create more stress for themselves and for those they interact with.
Without any doubt, to an extent, healthy competition encourages people to become better versions of themselves, encouraging at the same time a certain level of creativity, but unhealthy competition always leads to embarrassment. Many times unhealthy competition destroys the real enjoyment of a given activity, makes it less creative because some people become way too worried about being the first, too stressed to smile, too anxious imposing on others, too apprehensive to properly communicate and too rigid to collaborate.
Generally speaking, competition is pretty ambiguous, yet from the life principles’ perspective it could be useful in some occasions, but when competition becomes the only moral rule of life then lots of problems would appear, starting with the depreciation of human soul and finishing with a low cultural level.
Instead of competing with each other it is desired to
complete each other.
Personally,
I’m a big promoter of collaboration, effective communication, mutual respect, trust, loyalty,
and I truly believe that if we really want to change the world, we have to work
together toward this goal, in peaceful terms.
If
you have a great idea, share it! If you want to build a team, to partner, or to create a project, find the right collaborators, be positive, cooperate
truthfully, have a proper attitude, be respectful, be honest, communicate
effectively, trust each other, be consistent and make it happen, because
together we are so much better!
When we learn how to work together versus against each other, things are happening well, as we each become more powerful when we empower each other.
When we learn how to work together versus against each other, things are happening well, as we each become more powerful when we empower each other.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an
ocean.”
