Workplace Interdependence

interdependence
noun
in· ter· de· pen· dence | \ ˌin-tər-di-ˈpen-dən(t)s \
variants: or interdependency \ ˌin- tər- di- ˈpen- dən(t)- sē \
plural interdependences or interdependencies
Definition of interdependence
1: the state of being dependent upon one another: mutual dependence

Most folks who are a part of an organization, or that work for an employer, are part of a team.

If you are not now, chances are in the past, or coming soon you will have to rely on others to get a task accomplished. This can prove to be difficult, especially in today's marketplace and economic environment. Increasingly, relationships in corporate America are viewed as antagonistic as people seek to advance their career. We tend to want to look out for ourselves as number one and feel comfortable only relying on our ability to complete a work product as we are a known quantity. There are points to be made around someone's accountability toward themselves, but there is truly magic in the idea of interdependence.

What is interdependence in the workplace and what is its magic?

It's a symbiotic relationship that develops out of the need for having someone else contribute to what you are working on. Interdependence breaks away from the idea that you can only trust yourself to complete anything. It forgoes the constructs of the siloed work environment. It forces vulnerability, it amplifies connectivity, and generates relationship equity. If you look at its core, the ideal is offering and receiving help from others.

How does interdependence take place and what does it look like in action? How do you inspire a place where interdependence flourishes, yet people are still able to accomplish things? What benefits will I see from interdependence?

Let's break down the first one – how does interdependence take place and what does it look like?

When someone openly asks for help after coming to the realization it would be inefficient or nearly impossible to do something on their own you have a moment of interdependence. It can be as simple as a colleague asking for help finishing a document for a tight deadline or as complex as negotiating a joint venture with a competitor to tackle a big new client relationship.

As a non-technical person, I depend on my team of technical talent to be successful. Without close connection and interaction with them I would not be able to accomplish half of my objectives and I would be left feeling hopeless, defeated, and like my contributions alone do not matter.

What can you do to inspire a place where interdependence flourishes and generates productivity?

· By modeling the way and including others in your tasks you can show your team by doing. Set a clear example at the top that it’s okay to work together.
· Celebrate and recognize instances where you see interdependence in action and use descriptive language when celebrating these actions with others to help the concept catch on quickly.
· Offering tools for collaboration or special times where colleagues can join together to jump in and offer an assist on a project to help those responsible get the final touches and wrap up of deliverables across the finish line. Imagine being the solo point person on a big visible project and getting toward the end feeling fatigued and mired in the details only to have a team of interested, invested colleagues help come to your side to see through the final assembly and elevate your work by helping tie together any loose ends.
· Seek to generate an environment where you allow everyone to get to know one another and create trust to begin to break down the barriers sometimes seen when someone may be hesitant to ask for help.

What benefits will you see from interdependence?

· Your team can experience a better sense of team camaraderie when they know helping others and being helped are acceptable outcomes and celebrated behavior. An attitude of collaboration will win over an air of competition.
· Higher morale may develop as coworkers feel a sense of safety and trust among their peers, allowing more positive feelings to flourish, and a confidence that they indeed do matter to others.
· Feelings of value and purpose in being able to assist others are possible. Think of a time where you helped someone. When you were thanked and gratitude was expressed, how did it make you feel? Of course, you felt great. When we know others are grateful for our help it is hard not to feel appreciated and valuable.
· As colleagues band together to assist each other, each individual’s weak areas will be bolstered by their teammates’ strengths. The resulting synergy illustrates the adage, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Why do we not talk about interdependence?

While interdependence is not as common of a topic or sentiment in the workplace as synergy, culture, or strategy, it is a topic we need to think of more often. When asked why workplace interdependence should be top of mind, Jeremy Poincenot has this to say, “An African Proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ To me, that proverb epitomizes the concept of interdependence. We should all strive to go far, together with our colleagues in the workplace”.

Jeremy knows a thing or two about the topic.

Friends, sports, fraternity and most importantly, perfect 20/20 vision. Then it happened, no warning, no time to prepare. Life for him began to blur. Over the next few months, he lost central vision in his right eye, followed closely by his left. The diagnosis: a rare genetic disorder called Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disease that affects a mere 100 people in the U.S. each year with no treatment or cure in sight. At first, he thought losing his sight meant forfeiting his life. But soon learned that with every challenge comes an opportunity for growth, and began experiencing the true power of interdependence.