Digital Library: Cooperation

Cooperation

Cooperation is essential for almost all aspects of life and work, and almost every imaginary job in a company means at least some joint efforts of team members to work together. Thus, cooperation in most sectors of the working world is essential. The definition of the word “cooperation” refers to working by working with someone else to create something or create something.

Collaborative skills enable employees to connect productively with other co-workers. Successful cooperation requires a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. Employers typically look for employees who work effectively as part of a team and are willing to balance personal accomplishments with group goals.

Types of Cooperation

1. Direct Cooperation – represents all those activities in which people do like things together. For example, plying together, working together, carrying a load together or pulling the car out of mud together. The essential character of this kind of cooperation is that people do such identical function which they can also do separately. This type of cooperation is voluntary e.g., cooperation between husband and wife, teacher and student, master and servant etc.
2. Indirect Cooperation – in this type of cooperation are included those activities in which people do unlike tasks together towards a common end. This cooperation is based on the principle of the division of labour. In it people perform different functions but for the attainment of the common objective.

Cooperation is the most elementary form of social process without which society cannot exist. According to Kropotkin, it is so important in the life of an individual is that it is difficult to survive without it. Cooperation is the foundation of our social life. Cooperation for human beings is both a psychological and social necessity. The physical mental and even the spiritual needs of the individual remain unsatisfied if he does not agree to cooperate with others. Cooperation helps society to progress.

The idea of cooperating in the field of work, projects, tasks or providing services in the field of volunteering seems simple. But it is undoubtedly much more than that.

If you want to collaborate with others, be sure to include all the elements of successful collaboration:

1. Clear definitions and agreements on the role of partners in the cooperation process.

2. Open communication in groups to exchange information needed to carry out tasks.

3. Agree on objectives and methods for completing projects or tasks. Do not continue until the agreements of all team members have been confirmed.

4. Recognition and respect for the contribution of all participants.

5. Identification of obstacles and problem solving in the cooperation process.

6. The goals of the group are above personal satisfaction and / or recognition. It is crucial that the desired results of the project or task are brought to the forefront - not individual goals.

7. Willingness to apologize for any wrong steps, directions, or decisions.

In the processes of cooperation, we include a number of important communication and organizational elements, such as:

• Active listening to group members
• Negotiating roles that take advantage of individual benefits
• Analysis of problems without blaming
• Finding consensus on goals and processes for successful execution of tasks
• Delegation of tasks through open discussion
• Willingness to find solutions to problems
• Facilitating group discussion
• Identifying barriers to success
• Investing the time and energy needed to complete tasks
• Maintaining a sense of humor whenever possible
• Heard perspective of quieter co-workers
• Meeting deadlines for individual contributions
• Recognition of contributions from other contributors
• Recognition of strengths and weaknesses of employees
• Selection of compatible partners in the implementation of the task
• Sharing feelings of frustration or dissatisfaction when they arise
• Respect among team members
• Taking responsibility for mistakes
• Keep employees informed about project / task development
• Striving to fulfill group commitments.

Although cooperation in today’s workplace is often described as necessity  of “soft skills” application, it is just as important as hard skills such as educational background and / or technical knowledge. And while productive collaborative skills may not be innate to some individuals, they can be easily learned and practiced to perfection.

Significance in Times of Crisis (e.g. pandemic)

A major determinant of how societies and individuals handle crisis like pandemic is cooperation. Particularly in crisis voluntary organizations and volunteers need to pull together cross-functional perspectives to alleviate rapid changes, complex problems that have long-term implications.