Mastering the Art of Cooperation...





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Cooperation is a real value, a social process, a principle that has been used by countries in war or in process of bringing peace. Cooperation is a skill that we need to learn if we want to be a part of a team at home, at work, or in the community. In a way, is a benefit that we give to others in order to contribute with a project of building and strengthen relationships, communities services  and organizations, or just helping a friend in need. It's the benefit we receive  in special occasions from friends, family, and in many times and occasions from people we have never seen before. When we see how cooperation is fostered,we understand that with our attitude we either encourage a cooperative attitude in our environment or we discourage it. But, at the same time we need to be sincere with ourselves on not using cooperative attitude to manipulate others. Nor when we are the givers, neither when we are the recipient. Cooperation in its best expression is natural in people who cares about others, about the society, about education, about children and families... this is the kind of cooperation I am writing about here.

Since the beginning of all times I would say we have the natural need to recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate people's help and every one has their own way to express gratitude.  But, if we are in charge of a force of contributors, we need to find a way to preserve the energy of peace and harmony between those, that with care and commitment, support our mission, even when there might be times when they are dealing with some misunderstanding between them. So, as a leader we have to be able to see when a problem is just bringing an opportunity to work together with our group and see if there is a need to introduce some new communication skills. If we do it right, everybody win, and the group stay together because we have done the work to overcome the friction that normally keep us stuck in the problem.
 
I have seen great work and jobs well done where people work in cooperation for one purpose, one goal and one mission, but I have to say it take courage to work as a team at the beginning, because it is normally a learning experience where humbleness , fairness and transparency is not always present. So the commitment of people starts to decrease when we get distracted by personal differences and affected by others behaviors, instead of keeping the focus on the goal, and the best way to accomplish it with excellence. I have not seen yet any real successful project where every one does their own thing without contribution in form of planning, organizing, coordinating, administrating, or just working together.

Are you a Cooperative person?

Lets consider some particular points that can help us to address this question from different perspective.

• How many times during your journey, you realize on the effect of your attitude, or the importance of your commitment  for the success or wellness of  others? Can you see the importance of your positions when you are working with other people?
• How many days in a week  you need other people's information, process, results, disposition, or maybe support in order to accomplish your project goals? Its the feedback that you are receiving good, great, ok, or excellent? How did you do it? How was their answers to you?
• In which ways have you fail to cooperate in difficult circumstances?
• Do you feel you have put people down when you were part of a team or when you were the leader of a group? What did you do? How did you do it? To whom you did that? Were you fair with every one?
• Would you consider yourself a leader that promote Teamwork and Cooperation? How are you promoting cooperation?
• How have you cooperate with your own personal and professional development? How do you do with family goals?

Cooperation is a real Value.
All this questions are meant to lead us to see if there is any kind of circumstances in our life,  where we would like to improve our responses in a cooperative and more assertive way. Any behavior pattern can be modified with awareness, love, knowledge and a lot of practice of self control. If you are still here, please take a piece of paper and write Your Name on the top-centered of the page, and then make two columns;

1. Column I. I am very cooperative with...(Please add 7 names of the people you normally cooperate with, and 7 names of the kind of help you are always willing to give). Remember this is your homework, nobody will see it, only you will evaluate it.
2. Column II. I don't want to cooperate with (Write 7 Names of people that have ask you for help and you have turn your back to them. You have either neglect them, avoid to answer them, refused to support them. Write your seven best reasons to avoid cooperation  in each moment).

Work on it...and come back soon.
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