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If in fact competition brings out the "beast" in us, then research demonstrates
that cooperation surely brings out the "best" in us. This finding has been held in
virtually every occupation, skill, or behavior tested. For instance, scientists who
consider themselves cooperative tend to have more published articles than their
competitive colleagues. Cooperative businesspeople have higher salaries. From
elementary grades to college, cooperative students have higher grade point
averages. Personnel directors who work together have fewer job vacancies to
fill. And, not surprisingly, cooperation increases creativity. Unfortunately, most
people are not taught cooperative skills.
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of the standard ways that people once learned to cooperate - home, churches,
communities - are not operating as they did a generation ago. Teaching young
people how to cooperate does not receive the appropriate level of interest." As a
result, competition breeds unabated.
It seems that cooperation has an impact on individuals together in several key
areas. Not only does it create a more fluid leadership, but it allows everyone to
participate actively without fear of censure. Cooperation also has an impact on
an individual's perception of the work environment.
In this study, the more cooperative individuals were better adjusted
psychologically and physically healthier than their more competitive colleagues.
It seems that competition, or the constant feeling that you have to work against
something, has unhealthy physical side effects. Cooperation, and otherprosocial/unselfish behaviors, tend to have positive side effects. o that point, limited
evidence suggests that cooperation generates a type of "runner's high."
Although the research is not definitive, it is promising. Like those individuals who
exercise regularly, people who are cooperative and help others also experience a
type of "high," which might better be described as calmness or sense of freedom
from stress. As the researchers have shown, once this cooperation, not
competition, is preferred.
What comes to mind when you think cooperate? Does it needle you? Make you
think of weakness? That you are giving in? Those are some old ways of thinking
about cooperation but today we have a new name for it: joint ventures. Joint
ventures are not really a new idea. Back when I was in graduate school, Social
Psychology was working with the idea of cooperation [win-win strategies] and the
Boston area was one place this idea was popular. [I have always felt that words
and concepts we use in any age are just older concepts repackaged in modern
labels. The win-win of my graduate school days is now Joint Ventures just as selffulfilling prophecy is now Law of Attraction.]
One research study back then showed that when there is a common enemy you
could work together to reach a goal; even if you were competitors or did not like
each other.Today, that common enemy need not be an enemy, but instead, a
goal to aspire to such as money or success. How does cooperation help your
business? Everybody gains something they want. Working together ensures a
win-win scenario for both businesses. Lets look at how the win-win scenario of
Joint Ventures can work. You find people or businesses with similar interests or
goals or similar customer bases. Even those you might have thought of as the
competition and think how you might help each other.
Say, for example, I am writing a book for new parents. I ask myself who else has
a product for that market - or who already serves that market. I might reach out
to toy stores, diaper companies, hospitals - businesses with babies as a focus - to
see if they have an interest in working with me. I suggest they buy my book and
give it away to their customers/clients. The book can be produced with different
covers so each company has a version with their logo and information printed on
it. I win because I sell books in large quantities. My partners win because they
have happy clients who appreciate getting a gift along with the service. And their
business name is being spread around the community of new parents.
Another example: I do teleseminars. Your business does not but you have a
customer base [list] who may have an interest in my product. We cross promote
my teleseminars your base and mine listen and some buy my product. You win
because you are receiving a healthy percentage of the total sales no matter
whose list was buying. I still make money and Ive added names to my own list.
Your customers may also like that you help others by promoting their products.
There are many more ways to work together in a Joint Venture and there are
great resources for finding and approaching potential joint venture partners. And
Joint Ventures are great business opportunities in difficult economic times.