This is the sixth editorial in a seven-part series reviewing Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. We recently learned that Habit Four, “Think Win Win”, helps us find mutual benefit in all relationships. Habit Five, “First Understand, Then Be Understood”, is a skill that allows interaction between parties to be based on correct understanding, an essential piece of good communication. Habit Six, “Synergy”, comes from Habits Four and Five working together.
Synergy occurs when two or more things come together and, in that coming together, they achieve an effect that they are unable to achieve alone. With synergy, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. One plus one equals three. The sum is more than the individual parts added together. In nature, for example, two pieces of wood put together can carry more weight than the total of the weight carried by two separate pieces of wood.
At the Ardmore Village, we frequently get together to brainstorm about issues. It always amazes me to see the creative ideas that come from these discussions. The group members begin interacting and bouncing ideas off of each other. Soon creativity flows, developing ideas that would not have come about if the group members had not gotten together. This is synergy! In my opinion, this creative process is the most exciting part of synergy because you do not know exactly what is going to happen or where you will be lead.
Many believe that synergy is essential for growth and change. Albert Einstein once observed, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”
Synergy results from valuing the differences. By bringing different perspectives together in the spirit of mutual respect, people can find the best third alternative. One that is substantially different and better than either of the original proposals.
Arguably, when two people have the same opinion, one is unnecessary. If someone sees everything just as I see it, the value in the difference is lost. The chance for synergy is gone. Covey therefore encourages us to search for differences and seek different opinions.
When someone says that they disagree with you, say “Good! You see it differently. Help me to see it as you see it.” This is not always easy to do, however. Especially when the issue is a jugular issue. If you remember Habits Four (think win-win) and Five (understand before being understood) and allow them to work together, you will discover synergy.
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