The Alchemy of Collaboration
Author: Angela Gonzalez
“Cooperation is alien to the ego, it doesn’t know that the more you include others, the more smoothly things flow and the more easily things come to you.” Eckhart Tolle
In our workplaces, we can go about our lives as if we don’t need others, even when others offer to help or want to participate. For some reason, our ego—our need to be right, fast, competitive or special—gets in our way. Every time I talk to clients who have opted not to collaborate, because they wanted to go it alone or do it themselves, invariably, the outcome has been less than stellar.
This “go it alone” attitude continues to occur, despite that our brains are wired for connectivity to the people around us. When we connect person-to-person, we can experience compassion, synergy, fun, support, empathy, healing, kindness, joy, friendship and love—the list is endless. Bringing our humanity into the workplace enriches our lives, makes things easier and gives us the energy to make a difference in whatever we do.
There’s a lyric from a Linda Ronstadt song that has stayed with me, “The paradox of love, give one heart, get back two.” Yes, I can survive alone, but I’d rather thrive together.
Beautifully put. And incredibly pertinent for me right now, since the past month has been one giant lesson in cooperation and asking for help. It’s a very humbling experience for someone who has always made “on my own.” But I also found that it opened me up to giving others the gift of helping me. It has even brought me closer to some of the people I’ve sought out for help.
It’s like that quote on your home page — “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” There’s only so far you can sprint before you need somebody else’s help.
I love this blog as it reflects what has happened in my life. I have known that when people work together great things can happen. Going it alone is not all that it is cracked up to be. Thank you for the confirmation and the wonderful quote from Eckhart Tolle!
Great article Angela. Ultimately it’s the alchemy of thriving!!! Keep it coming to us.