The amount of times that relationships between elements and expressions and conditions come up in all sorts of mathematical concepts, in equations, in formulas — yeesh, it’s like relationships are one of the most important things ever. Like, perhaps we should pay extra special attention to it.

Seeing how significant – and incredibly necessary and effective – relationships are in all these formulas makes me think that they are significantly important IRL as well. And I don’t think we always utilize and then evaluate all the relationships we encounter everyday — especially when we are wanting to accomplish a group or team goal. A joint goal.

This is where the mathematical definition of the word function comes to play. The common definition, the go-to one that just hangs out in our brains, is: an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing. Things like… why we use a screwdriver instead of a hammer in a particular circumstance, or it could be just the purpose of a particular bridge. Or, geez, how many times have you asked something like, “What’s that person’s function?”

But there’s nothing in that common definition that calls out the significance of the relationship that that function has, a relationship that needs to ensure success. Like, do you know how to use a screwdriver? Is it the type of screwdriver that’s needed for the task at hand? How about that bridge. What’s its weight capacity? How wide a vehicle can that bridge withstand? What’s that bridges relationship with the foundation it was built on?

Look above at the mathematical definition of the word function. The photo I chose is of a few folks on a motorsports team. Look at all those variables in that photo: the knowledgable humans who we assume are in roles that best match their skill-sets, but also the tools they’re using. They could have the latest and greatest tools at their disposal; not just screwdrivers but also their hardware and software. Yet, if each of those functions, if those gazillion variables on that team — human to human, human to tool, even tool to tool — aren’t in a healthy relationship, never mind just acknowledging that each function has at least one relationship with someone/something else, success may be elusive.

Think about all the times you’ve looked back at a project and racked your brain on what went wrong. Next time you find yourself in that sort of situation, evaluate all – every single one – of the functions on that project, and make sure you understand each of the relationship(s) that each of those functions have.

Now that you know how important it is to thoroughly understand the function of every element that needs to work together for success, consider how you may approach the way you’d build a team, a group, or even a community.