Fellowship: definition and advantages of being a good companion
There is a crucial concept when it comes to understanding why some human groups achieve their goals.
Whether we talk about groups in school, at work or in other activities (such as sports teams), one of the keys for the community to remain cohesive and achieve its goals is the fellowship .
Definition of companionship
The fellowship is the bond that is established between partners . The companions are the individuals that form some type of group or community and that pursue a purpose or objective.
Let's give several examples to better understand the concept of companionship: "It is essential to foster the camaraderie of the members of the basketball team if we want to go far this season", "The companionship of this small company is the key to its success in the development of the product", "The national team conquered the trophy thanks to the camaraderie and altruism of midfielders and defenders", "The teachers have perceived that in some classes there is not a good fellowship among the students".
One of the keys to harmony in a group of people
The concept of companionship it is usually used to define good communication, harmony and cohesion among peers .
This means that, unfortunately, not all peer relationships enjoy good health. Some human groups only make sense by attending a finalist dimension: the fact of sharing an objective, business, for example, that forces to coordinate efforts among several people. At other times, for example, in some class groups, students share physical space, but do not develop the communication or affection necessary to create a climate that we could qualify as companionship.
The case of schools: the companionship, in question
In schools and institutes there are groups, and maybe This type of community is what best allows us to explore the concept of camaraderie and its many nuances . If a course is formed by 30 students, we can affirm that all of them are classmates. However, the companionship does not lie in the fact of sharing a space, but refers to the ability of students to help themselves , showing altruistic and cooperative attitudes among them.
For example, we can observe companionship when a student lends a utensil (a pen, a compass ...) to a partner, when it is a situation that occurs spontaneously. Obviously, there are also contrary cases, in which the companionship shines by its absence. The extreme scenario that refers us to a situation of no companionship is bullying: when a part of the group of students harasses, insults and mistreats a student.
The companionship in the companies: a value of fallen layer?
In business organizations, Many managers have realized the importance of fostering the camaraderie among employees with the objective that they feel the necessary bases to achieve the economic objectives . The cohesion between the members of the different work groups allows each of them to perform more and better, developing better capacities that allow the necessary synergy so that the result of the group action is optimal.
In fact, some time ago we published an article where we talked about teamwork. You can see it:
- "The 5 benefits of teamwork"
The teams whose members share ethical norms, values and objectives are those that have the best chance of succeeding . The companionship, however, not only results in an improvement of productivity, but also makes the everyday life of work more pleasant and is one of the essential requirements for establishing climates of trust and camaraderie.
How to improve companionship in the workplace?
Two of the best factors that help to establish bonds of group cohesion in the work environment are the wellness and the solidarity between partners .
We propose some essential points to carry out a fruitful work environment:
1. Communication with all members
It is important that team members communicate and establish relationships with the maximum number of possible partners (if possible, with all). Know each other well and know the virtues and defects of each member, as well as their needs and work rate. Knowing others It is also the best way to know what each member can contribute to the team .
2. Open mind
In groups of many people, It is usual for individuals of different cultural, religious origin to coexist , and even with a diversity of sexual orientations and divergent personalities.When the foundations are not generated so that people can understand each other despite their differences, the work dynamics can suffer severely.
3. Friendliness and trust
The veteran members should welcome the new members of the group in a friendly and careful manner, avoiding jokes and making the newcomers feel uncomfortable or out of place. Further, they should take the responsibility to teach as much as possible to the new ones so that they adapt easily and so that your stay in the company is a positive and edifying experience.
4. Criticisms must be constructive
Avoid judging others at all costs. Criticism must be carried out in a conciliatory and constructive way, reflecting on how you can help optimize the work process in each of its phases , and taking into account the effort of the members to be measured and fair when it comes to pointing out problems or errors. We must try not to hurt feelings, looking for words and contexts in which the criticism is well received, and emphasizing the positive and the change that can be implemented.
5. Be open to criticism in order to improve
Accepting criticism is knowing how to prioritize the good progress of the group over the personal ego. When we listen to constructive criticism and try to reflect on its content, the most normal thing is that we realize some things that fail and therefore end up becoming more prepared and effective professionals .
Reflecting on the companionship
The companionship within the companies can make a big difference in terms of productivity. When a group of individuals who work together learn to respect each other and to treat each other with the firm will to improve as professionals and as people, There will be huge chances that they will reach their goals, since the extra that brings motivation and cohesion to the final product is more than remarkable .
However, when the work climate is tense and there is no pleasant environment in the workplace, the routine becomes monotonous and the personal effort stops having a meaning beyond the mere "comply with the obligation" . This affects productivity very negatively. A team without fellowship is a team that is not very motivated and, ultimately, dysfunctional. Even cases of mobbing can appear in especially hostile work environments.
The ultimate meaning of companionship is group welfare above the individual whims. Trying to achieve a cohesion of all the members allows all the individuals to grow and feel happier in their place of work; something indispensable to be happy with our life in general.
Bibliographic references:
- Buchloz and Roth. (1992). How to create a High Performance Team in your Company. Editorial Atlántida, Buenos Aires.
- Maddux, R. (2000). How to form a Work Team: Leadership in action.
