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Working together, we are better
“None of us is as smart as all of us.”
- Ken Blanchard
Gestalt psychology tells us that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. On an individual level, think of how our brain and body functions. We benefit by everything working in tandem to perform tasks both physically and mentally. The brain needs the body and the body needs the brain. On a slightly larger scale, think of a marching band or a rock band. Everyone has to work together to perform a great concert. If anyone is playing off key or out of rhythm, it can negatively affect the band’s overall performance. The same can be said for team sports. Talented athletes and teamwork is what wins championships.
We all work in teams or groups as part of our personal or professional pursuits. Sometimes we get to choose our teams and sometimes we do not necessarily have a say in who we work with. Sometimes we just have to make it work. It may not be a hill worth dying on. We do our best with what we got. The group benefits by getting the most out of each individual to whatever extent they can contribute. Collaborating with others, especially on a large scale, can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. It can take a lot of communication, cooperation and compromise. It can also build lots of character!
