Going Batty - Competition and Cooperation

Well welcome to another "batty" Friday, thank God it's Friday, it is heading towards end of financial year and it is definitely the "batty" season.

Grey-headed Flying-fox, is the largest of the Australian mega-bats, and are one of the largest species of bats in the world. They are native to Australia and are particularly known for their role in seed dispersal and pollination of eucalyptus trees. Their behavior can demonstrate both the benefits of competition and cooperation within a species.

If you live near a Flying-fox camp then you will know that they live in colonies of up to 10,000 or more.

So what the hell do a bunch of bats have to teach us about business success. Two words really:

"Competition and Cooperation"

Competition

Grey-headed flying foxes compete for resources such as food and roosting sites, as well as for mates. This competition can lead to the healthiest and fittest individuals reproducing, which over time strengthens the overall species through a process identified by Darwin (the scientist not the city) known as natural selection. Natural Selection is true throughout the animal kingdom and that includes the business kingdom, or funny farm, the source of our "batty" Fridays.

Flying-fox, like businesses, compete in many ways. But without competition they would not survive.

1. Food: During times when food is scarce, competition for resources becomes intense. Bats that are better at finding food or can access a wider variety of food sources have a competitive advantage. This competition can lead to the development of new behaviors or traits that enhance survival. For example, bats may develop a keen sense of smell or improve their echolocation abilities to find food more effectively.
2. Mating: Males often compete for access to females during the breeding season, and this competition can lead to stronger offspring. The strongest and fittest males are often the ones that mate, passing on their strong genes to the next generation.

Ok so I can see the smiles but the years of the 3 martini lunch have definitely past and I am not suggesting rampant orgies as a solution to staff morale.

Competition is about survival. So often I have heard sales and marketing people, and a few too many managers, say; "if only we didn't have competitors!". In business competitors prove that there is a market and competition helps to improve that market.

Rule number one: stop people in your business criticising the competition.

Cooperation

On the other hand, grey-headed flying foxes also show a high degree of cooperation, particularly in roosting behavior and parenting.

1. Roosting: They roost in large colonies, also known as "camps." This social structure provides safety in numbers from predators. Information about food sources can be shared within the camp, benefiting all members.
2. Parenting: Female flying foxes form maternity colonies where they give birth and raise their pups. They show cooperative behavior in protecting and caring for their young. For example, if a predator threatens the maternity roost, the females will band together to protect their offspring.

With so many Flying-fox in a single camp it cannot survive without cooperation. Flying-fox display a high degree of intelligence they work together for the great good and to make the colony successful.

In business Cooperation is essential for success. Cooperation can come in many ways such as through peer to peer learning, teamwork and sharing of knowledge. Remember;

"Teamwork makes the Dream work".

Therefore, both competition and cooperation have their roles to play in the survival, development and success of the Grey-headed Flying fox. Competition drives the evolution of advantageous traits, while cooperation helps in resource sharing and protection from predators.

So, if you have had another "Batty" week then take time to consider it might be a result of your cooperation and competitiveness doing just what it supposed to. In my opinion it's the "Batty" people that strive to get stuff done. Now that you have put in a hard week take some time to relax and have some fun. Go for a walk around a Grey-headed Flying-fox camp and see what competition and cooperation sound like. TGIF.

My Dry July

Cancer is terrible and almost 40% of all men and women will be diagnosed with cancer. People with cancer and their families and friends need support.

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.

The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment.

Please support Dry July and make a donation to My Dry July at dryjuly.com/users/john-debrincat-2 . You donation is fully tax deductible.

Author: John Debrincat FACS, MAICD

ShapedLogic

#TGIF #Cooperation #Competition #BusinessSuccess #greyheadedflyingfox #battyfriday