Anyone else struggle with these? I'm guessing so.
I've just finished a 3-day training course at work in dealing with challenging behaviour. A lot of it involved activities that started with those words I've always dreaded. 'Find yourselves a partner.'
I don't mind if it's more than one other person. But when it's just two of you, it's inevitable that one person will tend to be the more dominant. I've never liked being dominant like that, so I find it difficult to take charge, and invariably will go along with what the other person says. If it's three or more, on the other hand, then I don't feel so much pressure and am happy to let someone else take charge.
Maybe it's related to feeling a sense of solidarity if there's at least one other subordinate involved in the activity. If it's just two of you, it's just one against the other in the quest to be dominant. That's what always makes me feel uncomfortable.
Everyone else enjoyed the course. I was the only one who didn't. I just hate those kinds of activities. I'd sooner work alone. It's also why I'd never, ever want to be a manager or supervisor of anyone else - just myself.