There are some things you can only do with other people. What is your favorite group activity?
Share why if you wish.
Category: Others
What Are Some Unusual Collaborations?
Following up on Sunday’s question about unusual collaborations, what are some of the notable ones that come to mind?
Share why if you wish.
What Makes Unusual Collaborations Work?
Human history is filled with collaborations, and some of those have been quite unusual. When two people who seem to have nothing in common make magic, why does it work?
In many ways, the story of humans is one of collaboration. What one relatively weak and unassuming individual cannot do, a group can accomplish relatively easily. Working together has made our species masters of the world.
Even now, this kind of collaboration can be seen everywhere. What is a company, after all, if not a group of individuals pooling their talents and efforts? Some are working on manufacturing, some on marketing, others on sales, and so on.
Some of the most obvious examples happen in music. It is easy to see that two (or more) musical artists are collaborating when they perform, and perhaps even write, a song together.
Some of these pairings or groupings can seem a little odd, but can actually produce beautiful music. It might not be obvious that, say, a country singer might perform with an Irish band. Or an elder statesman singer of standards would match up well with a young pop star.
While these musical collaborations are quite visible, they are not the exception. There are examples of unexpected team-ups throughout our society.
This should be too surprising, of course. After all, one of the benefits of collaboration is finding others who have skills, knowledge, or connections that you lack. This would naturally suggest unusual pairings or groupings.
What is it that can make an unusual pairing work, and what are some of the things that might cause that same pairing to fail? What are the ingredients for a good collaboration? And how might you use this information to choose who you want to work with?
Related questions: How can we encourage collaboration? Competition or collaboration? How does your personal life influence your work life?
What Are The Benefits Of Expressing Gratitude?
There are many self-help outlets — books, blogs, podcasts, and so on — that advocate regular expressions of gratitude. Why?
Expressions of gratitude can come in many different forms. They can be private expressions, in your head while you are meditating, for example. Or they can be public, directly to the person or object being thanked, or even to an entire audience of people.
You may have practiced these displays yourself. (If not, surely your imagination will suffice.) When you think, write, or speak your affirmations, what happens? What changes might take place, both within you, in the subject of your gratitude, and within society at large?
There are surely some benefits for this behavior, or else it would not be recommended by so many people in so many outlets. In your experience, what benefits come from expressing gratitude?
Related questions: What are you grateful for? What does it mean to be thankful? How could you show your appreciation for others more? What are our responsibilities to others?
How Are You Different From Most People?
In many ways, we are alike. We all have two arms, for instance, and we have a biological mother and father. But how are you different from others? What sets you apart?
Share why if you wish.