Teamwork

I don’t remember the source of what I’m about to tell you about. I remember reading it in a magazine in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s. Also, the numbers might have been different, but the point remains the same. With those caveats, I’ll write about what I remember.
 
There was a study done in a manufacturing plant. It found that if two workers, one who could read at a fifth grade level and one who could read at a sixth grade level, working together would be able to understand instructions written at a ninth grade reading level.
 
This has stuck with me over the years. It’s a good proof that we can accomplish more working together than we can on our own. Each person brings their own strengths and talents that complement the others. Different viewpoints have value and need to be listened to. None of us is perfect.
 
Now picture those same two workers, but now they are both sure they are the ultimate authority and everything the other says is wrong. I think their combined reading level would actually drop.
 
I think the reason this came to mind to me as I was thinking about what to write is because we’re in an election year and I want us to end up at an upper level.