As part of our end-of-year campaign, which is dedicated to altruistic cooperation, we wanted to explore this theme with Vincent Follet, whose experience and career embody the values of sharing and commitment. Initially trained as an engineer, Vincent chose to redirect his career towards the social sector, inspired by his volunteer activities. He has been a social worker for over 20 years, and for the past year has also been an instructor for Karuna-Shechen’s Resilience program. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on cooperation, highlighting the importance of authenticity, vulnerability and individual commitment in building human bonds.
Cooperating means sharing what makes us human.
Authenticity, vulnerability and trust as the foundations of cooperation
Vincent speaks of the need to commit oneself fully to cooperation by being authentic, which means being able to show one’s vulnerabilities. It is by truly being ourselves, without trying to hide our weaknesses, that we create solid and lasting bonds of trust with others. This mutual trust is essential if cooperation is to take root. He emphasizes: “Being authentic also means being able to show your vulnerabilities. When you’re authentic, it creates a space where others can be authentic too, and that’s how cooperation is built.”
Trust is a key to cooperation, and it’s intimately linked to our vulnerability.
Vincent Follet
Mindfulness as a tool for connection
Mindfulness emerges as a powerful means of creating authentic connections. As Vincent explains: “Mindfulness creates the link between myself and others. Meditating together fosters a bond of connection, which connects us to each other and also to our inner selves.” This practice helps us to build deeper relationships based on mutual understanding and empathy. He adds: “Intimacy is also created by meditating together on a very personal practice of silence, in which people are invited to close their eyes and come back to themselves. […] And I especially like the moment when the meditation stops, when the eyes open, when each person returns to the group. It’s a very powerful moment that really creates something more in the group, which allows us to go deeper, to free up our words, and perhaps to be more daring too.”
Cooperating beyond the common goal
Contrary to the popular idea that cooperation requires a well-defined common goal, Vincent invites us to think otherwise. He suggests that what unites individuals in a collective project is not necessarily a precise goal, but rather the ability to share what makes up their common humanity: “Having a common goal is not indispensable for cooperation. To cooperate is to share our common humanity. Above all, it’s about finding a way of being together, understanding what brings us together, what makes us a community.”
Individual commitment: a pillar of cooperation
For Vincent, authentic cooperation depends on the individual commitment of each group member. Everyone has to take responsibility and invest themselves fully in the collaborative process, without waiting for someone else to take the reins: “Commitment also means taking responsibility, taking our place and realizing that our place is just as important as everyone else’s. Not waiting for a leader, for someone to pull us along. Not waiting for a leader, for someone to come and pull you along”.
This personal commitment is what makes it possible to create a group where everyone actively contributes to the collective success.
This article is just a brief overview of the thoughts shared during the interview. To find out more and discover concrete examples, we invite you to watch the full interview on video. An enriching exchange between Vincent and Franck Blot, Karuna-Shechen’s Advocacy Director.