Companionship: definition and advantages of being a good companion

Being a good partner (whether at school or in the workplace) makes it easier to cope with everyday life.

It is a crucial concept in understanding why some groups of people achieve their goals.

Whether we are talking about groups at school, at work or in other activities (such as sports teams), one of the keys for the community to remain cohesive and thus achieve its goals is the fellowship.

Definition of fellowship

The fellowship is the bond that is established between colleagues. Companions are individuals who form some kind of group or community and who pursue a purpose or objective.

Let's take several examples to better understand the concept of camaraderie: "It is essential to foster the companionship of the members of the basketball team if we want to go far this season.", "The camaraderie of this small company is the key to its success in product development.", "The national team won the trophy thanks to the comradeship and altruism of midfielders and defenders.", "Teachers have perceived that in some classes there is not a good camaraderie among students".

One of the keys to harmony in a group of people.

The concept of camaraderie is often used to define good communication, harmony and cohesion among classmates.. 

This means that, unfortunately, not all peer relationships are in good health. Some groups of people only make sense in terms of a finalistic dimensionThe fact of sharing an objective, for example a business objective, which forces several people to coordinate their efforts. On other occasions, for example in some class groups, students share physical space, but do not develop the communication and affection necessary to create a climate that could be described as companionship.

The case of schools: companionship in question

In schools and institutes there are groups, and perhaps this type of these types of communities are the ones that best allow us to explore the concept of companionship and its many nuances.. If a class consists of 30 students, we can say that they are all classmates. However, companionship does not lie in the fact of sharing a space, but refers to the students' ability to help each other, showing altruistic and altruistic attitudes, and to the fact that they are not just a group of students.The students show altruistic and cooperative attitudes towards each other.

For example, we can observe companionship when a student lends some utensil (a pen, a compass...) to a classmate, when it is a situation that occurs spontaneously. Obviously, there are also opposite cases, in which companionship is conspicuous by its absence. The extreme scenario that refers us to a situation of no fellowship at all is bullying: when one part of the group of students harasses, insults and mistreats a student.

Companionship in companies: a value in the doldrums?

In business organizations, many managers have become aware of the importance of fostering camaraderie among employees in order to lay the necessary foundations for achieving economic objectives.. The cohesion between the members of the different work groups allows each one of them to perform better and better, developing better capabilities 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 consult it:

• "The 5 benefits of teamwork".

Teams whose members share ethical standards, values and goals are those that are most likely to succeed. Teamwork, however, not only improves productivity, but also makes everyday working life more pleasant and is one of the prerequisites for establishing a climate of trust and camaraderie.

How to improve camaraderie in the work environment?

Two of the best factors that help to establish bonds of group cohesion in the work environment are the well-being and solidarity among colleagues.

We propose some essential points for a fruitful work environment:

1. Communication with all members

It is important that team members communicate and establish relationships with as many colleagues as possible (if possible, with all of them). Know each other well and know the strengths and weaknesses of each member, as well as their needs and pace of work. Knowing each other is also the best way to know what each member can contribute to the team..

Open-mindedness

In groups of many people, it is common for individuals of different cultural and religious backgrounds, and even diverse orientations, to coexist.and even with a diversity of sexual orientations and divergent personalities. When the bases are not created so that people can understand each other in spite of their differences, the work dynamics can be seriously affected.

3. Friendliness and trust

Veteran members should greet new members of the group in a friendly and caring manner, avoiding making jokes and making newcomers feel uncomfortable or out of place. They should also should take responsibility for teaching newcomers as much as possible so that they can adapt easily. and to make their stay in the company a positive and uplifting experience.

4. Criticism should be constructive

Judging others should be avoided at all costs. Criticism should be made in a conciliatory and constructive manner, reflecting on how one can help to optimize the work process in each of its phases, and taking into account the efforts of others.The effort of the members must be taken into account in order to be restrained and fair when pointing out problems or errors. Try not to hurt susceptibilities, looking for words and contexts in which 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 personal ego. When we listen to constructive criticism and try to reflect on its content, most often, we realize some things that go wrong and therefore end up becoming more prepared and effective professionals..

Reflecting on teamwork

Partnership within companies can make a big difference in terms of productivity. When a group of individuals working together learn to respect and deal with each other with a strong desire to improve as professionals and as people, there is a great likelihood that they will achieve their goals, they are likely to achieve their goals, since the extra motivation and cohesion that motivation and cohesion bring to the final product is more than noticeable..

However, when the work climate is tense and there is no pleasant atmosphere in the workplace, the routine becomes monotonous, the routine becomes monotonous and personal effort becomes meaningless beyond "just doing the job.. This has a very negative impact on productivity. A team without camaraderie is a poorly motivated and ultimately dysfunctional team. In particularly hostile work environments, cases of mobbing can even occur.

The ultimate purpose of team spirit is the well-being of the group above individual whims. Trying to achieve a cohesion of all members allows all individuals to grow and feel happier in their workplace; something indispensable to be happy with our life in general.

Bibliographical references:

• Buchloz and Roth. (1992). Cómo crear un Equipo de Alto Rendimiento en su Empresa. Editorial Atlántida, Buenos Aires.
• Maddux, R. (2000). Como formar Equipo de Trabajo: Liderazgo en acción.