Today’s letter
for the AtoZ Blogging Challenge is ‘I’ for my theme ‘A to Z of Effectiveness’.
You can read more about my theme here. I’m also participating in the NaBloPoMo
for April.
Source |
Do you know a person who is pretty successful in her field, but still
takes time out to help other people? I know a few people like that and I marvel
at their selflessness. They could consider it a waste of valuable time that
they could use to further their own business/growth. Or they could be
threatened by people who might turn out to be competitors in the future. But
such people don’t think in that manner, for they have truly mastered the
concept of interdependence.
In ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, Stephen Covey talks
about the Maturity Continuum, a natural progression from dependence to independence
to interdependence. While he does propagate individual independence, he thinks
that the modern world puts too much importance on it, resulting in troubles
within families, organizations and any kind of team. While becoming independent
may give a temporary high, there’s only so long you can go before you don’t
need someone’s help and support. Interdependence is not just the way for the world
to move forward; it is also the way to lasting personal success.
You often hear of people who claim to be ‘self-made men’. But is that
really possible? Wouldn’t this man also have had all kinds of help along the
way to the top – probably some that he doesn’t even know of? We haven’t been
programmed to live in isolation; and as long as we don’t accept this, we lose
out on a lot of things – love, friendship, opportunities, learning etc.
One can become interdependent only after independence; you need to have
the ability to stand on your own before you can make a contribution to a team. And
when you acquire the maturity to put aside your ‘self’ and look at the big
picture; that’s when you feel truly effective.
I’m on the
journey to independence!! Where do you see yourself on the Maturity Continuum –
Dependent, Independent or Interdependent?
12 comments
I know one such person, who is very good in his field and doesn't think twice before helping others! They are truly the epitome of selflessness and their mere presence demands respect from others.
ReplyDeleteIt Happens For A Reason
Very true, Swathi!! Such people are truly a source of inspiration!
DeleteThat's really thought provoking. Most of us think about being independent but rarely about interdependent. You have a wonderful blog :)
ReplyDeleteKeep Writing.
Thank you Simran!! That's very encouraging!
DeleteAs the old song goes, "I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends". ☺ My husband and I are best friends and very much interdependent on each other, going on 42 years.
ReplyDeleteHaving your spouse as your closest friend is truly one of the best things in the world!! Congratulations!
DeleteVery interesting. I love that quotation from Mahatma Ghandi. I see all of us as being interdependent in some sense--we rely on one another, for example, to agree on the established social contract of wherever we happen to live. If we want to challenge that social contract, it definitely helps to be independent, but we won't get far without opting for interdependence.
ReplyDeleteExactly!!! Wherever in the world we live, we just can't do without interdependence!
DeleteNot only at workplace even in most important relationship like Marriage and Friendships, interdependence reveals trust and harmony.
ReplyDelete#AtoZChallenge, Visit us at http://sinhasat302.blogspot.in/
Very true!! Interdependence should begin at home, and then in workplaces and in society at large.
DeleteI agree. Only with being independence first can you achieve interdependence.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for visiting my blog :)
You're welcome, Athira!!
Delete