How Working Together Can Make 1 + 1 = 3

100 Things #009 - Collaborate

I’m not sure what was in the water when I was in high school, but it felt like the coolest thing a person could do was hate group assignments and try to come across as aloof as they could muster. 

While I can’t speak to the culture in high schools today, I do believe that the bad reputation that collaboration gets is due for a change. 

Having the privilege to work alongside others has had nothing but positive effects on my life since rejecting the strange normative social culture that surrounds shared assignments and collaborative work. 

The sooner one can embrace the additive effect that sharing knowledge and experience has on one’s life, the sooner one can begin to reap the rewards of being a part of a mutually beneficial social network, and, more importantly, the sooner one can begin to contribute to said social network themself.

It’s been said a hundred times, for good reason, that humans are social creatures. We are at our best when we have others to lean on, share with, and learn from. And this pattern need not stop at school assignments; most things in life, when approached through collaboration, gain a very particular sort of shine that very little else can produce. 

For example, relationships take on a notably different air when approached collaboratively. 

Obstacles that used to come between partners turn instead into hurdles to face together, as a team.

Success, instead of looking like an individual accomplishment, becomes a victory for the unit.

It may come across as oddly formal to approach something that often seems like a thing born in magic and spontaneity with the kind of planning required to present a united front. Though, it can’t be overstated enough how much smaller obstacles become when you have the help of a partner to overcome them. 

I have a simple rule of thumb when it comes to approaching collaborations. 

1 + 1 should equal 3.

I’ll unpack that a bit. 

I believe that no matter what a person is going through, they are still whole. And I believe that a true collaboration between two whole entities truly contributing to their joint effort will always add up to a product greater than the sum of its parts. 

We are better when we band together, and that’s that.

I’ll leave you here with a few journaling prompts for those who want to do a bit of guided thinking around this topic:

• Reflect on your experiences with collaboration, both in school and in other areas of your life. How have these experiences shaped your perspective on working with others?

• Reflect on your rule of thumb, "1 + 1 should equal 3." What does this principle mean to you, and how do you apply it in your collaborations and relationships?

• Consider the importance of appreciating the support systems in your life. Take a moment to acknowledge and express gratitude for the people who have supported you in your collaborative endeavours.

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Take a moment and appreciate the support systems you have in your life. Feel free to share a story in the comments below if anything resonated with you.

For now, have a good week, and I’ll see you at 100.

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash