Mutualistic relationships benefit everyone

Mutualism occurs when both parties to the interaction benefit, and it is therefore a win-win situation. This is an ideal working relationship between team members and should be strived for at all costs.

Red-billed oxpeckers are good examples of birds that have a mutualistic relationship with other animals. The oxpecker is allowed to sit on the hide of animals such as rhino and wildebeest, removing ticks and other parasites. Both parties benefit, since the oxpecker obtains food and animals get help by having parasites removed. They live together in harmony, understanding that by working together they both derive some kind of benefit.

Mutualism in business

When applied to dealings between businesses, a mutualistic approach can also prove extremely productive. My own business experiences have proved as much. For example, many years ago, our relatively small wealth management company launched a joint venture with a fairly large professional outfit. The agreement between us was that this large outfit would refer its clients to us in return for a share of the profits. Our associates were obliged to refer all investment or wealth-related business to us, in return for 50% of any profits we generated.

Things worked smoothly for a while, but we soon realized that for the model to be sustainable, we needed to change the way our associates were incentivized. We therefore decided to invest more time, money and effort with them and managed to restore parity between us and take the initiative forward on a more equal footing.

Mutualism and teamwork

Relationshipos are key to effective teamwork. But more importantly, it is critical that we pursue the right kind of relationship in our team dynamics. Mutualistic relationships benefit everyone. They ensure a win-win outcome and they are sustainable over the long run.

Find out more about mutualistic relationships and natural teamwork when you buy Vernon Cresswells book

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