Cooperation and Compassion Are Keys to Creative Leadership
What do you do when you see someone give a co-worker a dig, what we used to call “zingers”? Did you say something, smirk in pleasure, walk away pretending you did not hear the slur, the verbal smack?
Bullies are all over the news these days. And there is an interesting new study from the University of California, Berkeley that indicates the environment plays a major role in bullies’ bullying. It seems that these masters of the “gotcha game” are made not born.
Do you prefer cooperation or competition? Answer that question and read on. In the Berkeley study, student from 3rd-5th grade, who were put in a “cooperative learning” environment were more likely to collaborate and help each other to succeed.
It seems like a "no brainer". Cooperation is less stressful; it creates a more pleasant setting for learning to take place. When competition is the norm, it becomes everyone for him or herself and no one wants to reach out to help another.
When we are trained into only winning and looking out for number one we are more aggressive and often get delight from another person’s downfall.
Put into the context of the media, there is so much more offered to show who wins and who loses. Not much is ever reported about who cooperates and collaborates to get things done.
During this holiday season, pay attention to those who brag about the number of gifts or the type of gifts they get. It will be more obvious coming from youngsters. However, it becomes so ingrained that adults will boast about their gifts are the one-up-man (or woman) ship is in play.
Leaders, think about how you foster cooperation in the workplace and remember the Berkeley research. Positive behaviors combat bullying and harmful aggression. Make the pledge to create a more cooperative environment at work for 2012. With all the stress to do more with fewer resources, the big win is working together.
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