Pay Attention to the Interests of the Whole or Look Out for Number One?

I would think that when you take care of the whole, the individuals will be cared for as well.

Good morning:)

I think it is always best to look out for the whole, whether that be a team, a family, a community, or human beings and the earth. It's hard to accomplish great things alone, and since their is strength in unity, that is the way I live.

Karen

hello getbrowser. i think I am guilty of this one because it was during the training times, although it was my source, the other members think am being selfish, i was a bit guilty but they didn't have to do that, like making me guilty for something that i bought for my own source.well,that was long ago, i do hope I can do better the next time i am with other team mates.

hiya get

If you think of it as a big machine with all the parts working then it works perfectly, but if one part breaks down it doesn't work right?
I think a selfish attitude can cause breakdowns in relationships, whether it's famil, friends, lovers, partners, business partners. Just like in the Lot here...
some people need to be there for others and drop the selfish attitudes

Alice

Usually I'm socially oriented, sometimes painfully so. The pain is more often mine. But I have been known to have my moments of selfindulgence which burn out too quickly to really amount to much..
As for the world in general, its been evident for a rather long time that too many folks would rather focus on themselves, and expect other folks for them as well, in kind, that they do for themselves..And it ain't gonna change..
Like here in the US, regardless of the philosophy of The Constitution and The Bill of Rights, the 'special interest' wins quite often..even tho it openly defies 'We the people..' and thru 'special' additions to that Constitution in favor of these groups..have rendered The Constitution itself as Unconstitutional and that's scary!

Hi getbrowser.I totally agree with you.We should learn from ants on how unity can accompalish everything.I will try my best to be a team player.But I do not know why everybody calls me selfish.May be I am lazy and stubborn but I am not selfish. Anyways I hope everyone realizes this fact.Nice discussion there.And have a nice day..

--shames--

Hi getbrowser, I have never agreed with the thought,"look out for number one". Working together is very important both in work situations such as you speak of here, and in life in general. I feel strongly that we are our brother's keeper and if we only look out for ourselves, the human race will be in a lot of trouble. I try to take a positive attitude and believe that there are more people who think as I do then we realize. Blessings.

Hi Getbrowser! You ask excellent questions. You are correct when you say that it is hard to find anyone who thinks of others more than himself/herself. That is not necessarily a bad thing, and is really human nature. I live in a tornado-prone area, and when there is a threat, the first thing I think about is my family, and any preperations that need to be made. ANd then I look to my neighbors. Thankfully, we haven't had one.

I think the problem is more that people stop thinking after they have looked out for number one. That is not only selfish, but very short-sighted too. Our care has to continue beyond ourselves. We hear the words 'global economy' all the time. I would like to think that with (or because of) the internet, that we are becoming a global people. It is not just the economy, it is all of us too. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and that is true with societies and economies too.

Being part of an organization require every one to participate being in a team and to keep it every member should embodies in themselves the manner of camaraderie of closeness for every member of a team develop being motivated to work out toward a common goal. Every one have selfish motivation and that is why a team player exist. You play to cooperate and help to finish the work done perfectly if their would be defect it easily heal with a lot of meeting of minds. Thus, any arguments and contradiction would be resolve.

As a team member you cooperate as you have the intention to stay fit with the group to retain your good reputation. And whether you disagree you could not just keep face to tell it to the whole team directly or else you would be going to isolated and being blame for being uncooperative. Everyone have their own hidden agenda to maintain a good image and that is selfishness itself for keeping silent to voice out any contradiction. While, different scenario of selfishness happen when you use a friend for your own personal growth, then after you suck all of her energy, you dumped here without any regrets...

I've been used to working with a team and you will really be meeting different personalities and this means that they too have different style in handling situations and looking at problems and solutions. I simply do the following:

1. try to facilitate a discussion that will to the groups identification and prioritization of the problems
2. come up with possible solutions and interventions
3. assess and make an agreement on how to handle such problem or situation
4. in whatever decision the team will take it will always be for the benefit of the majority-- no selfishness but SELF-SACRIFICE!