Being Cooperative

Written By Colēgia

Cooperation is an extremely useful skill for us in many areas of our lives. It can help us learn key teamwork skills that can benefit us in school and at work. Being more cooperative is a combination of our behavior and actions and we ultimately want to be in harmony with both aspects. Today we want to talk about some ways to do this and why being cooperative is a good life skill.

Practice Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the key to being more cooperative both in school and other areas. Sometimes it can be tough since we might feel that things aren't fair. It's good to consider the blessings we have in more teamwork-oriented settings. Gratitude and self-awareness both go hand in hand since gratitude allows us to enjoy the efforts we put into things. We can slow down and reassess our thoughts after a long group project and see how we feel about things. This can also clue us into whether we're getting along with our teammates. Sometimes our different approaches to a problem can seem conflicting. Recognizing this is important since it's simply a means of reaching a different endpoint. Cooperation requires us to be aware of our own skills and harmonize those with others.

“Self-awareness is the key to being more cooperative both in school and other areas.”

Make Sure You're In a Good Space

While self-awareness can be pivotal in our cooperative success, this also needs to be tempered with some other core elements. We can be as aware of our actions and intent as possible, but if we're not in a good headspace mentally, then things can feel extremely challenging. One example of this can be if we're frustrated by something else happening in our life. This can take a lot of mental energy and it can be difficult to want to get along with others when we don't feel okay ourselves. Rather than letting those thoughts drive our actions, we need to take a step back. If we feel sick it's okay to ask for more time to get what you need done. If you feel that you can't handle things mentally, then it's crucial to pace yourself and take a break. The best cooperation happens when both sides are happy and healthy.

“While self-awareness can be pivotal in our cooperative success, this also needs to be tempered with some other core elements.”

Perspective is Everything

Perspective can be a game changer when it comes to cooperation. It's helpful to understand that some people are inherently more team-oriented than others and that's okay. Even the most self-driven individuals need to work with people at some point in their lives. Finding ways for both sides to collaborate while still giving them the flexibility to do their best work is key here. It's good to remember that as people, we rely upon others to provide systems and structures that help build our success. Farmers help create food to sustain us, educators help give us the knowledge needed to be informed, and our parents give us the tools needed to put our best foot forward in life. Everyone cooperates in some shape or form and when done right, it can empower us.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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