Thru Their Eyes

We remember better together

One reason that I am fascinated by the process of collaboration is that as a species we live better lives when we collaborate. What I mean by this is that from psychology to finance there is evidence to support that individuals are exponentially better off if they commit to collaboration and with a common goal. 

Then why is it such a hard sell?

I just sat through a briefing of a number of organisations that flat out refuse to believe it is in their best interest to work together as a collective to achieve a very well defined common goal. How best to make the argument? I always try to drop a scientific article or thinker into the conversation. 

The latest research on Alzheimers (sp) states that we, as human beings, remember better when we work together. Given that institutional/brand legacy is a growing area for vendors (since we are around the brand longer than the client seems to be) surely this would be a great strategy to get folks to buy in?

What is you most successful strategy for encouraging folks to believe in collaboration?

Women make better soldiers

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) women and men do not react the same to the theatre of war. It turns out women can handle it better. 

Why is this not surprising?  After all, the common assumption is that women are 'too emotional' or 'empathic in the wrong way' when it comes to handling (let alone managing) conflict. And yet, I read the research study and thought "Yep. Feels right."

Maybe its time to reassess what the perception of empathic understanding is in the arena of conflict. This would do the industry I work in no end of good. Too many people are way to afraid to have the 'bad' conversation. It is left to fester until there is a huge blowup (or you lose the account) and then there is the inevitable blame game. 

If we had someone that was less inclined to be the emotional victim and more driven by contextual empathy we would have less conflict. 

Now there's a concept.