Habit 6

Synergize

The “High Way”

Synergy is Everywhere

• You have been a part of synergy in many forms
• Nature
• Teams
• Group projects
• Band
• Orchestra

Synergy in My Life

Came out

August 13, 2019

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Synergy

• It is…
• Celebrating differences
• Teamwork
• Open-mindedness
• Finding new and better ways

• It is not…
• Tolerating differences
• Working independently
• Thinking you’re always right
• Compromise

We are all a minority of one

• We have different styles and traits and characteristics
• What fruit were were you?
• Which fruit was the best?
• What if we were all the same?
• We all have strengths and weaknesses. No one is better or worse, just different

We are a minority of one

• We learn differently
• One way isn’t better than another, only different
• We see differently
• Think of what color is the dress
• https://www.businessinsider.com/color-of-the-blue-and-black-dress-science-2015-2

Celebrating Differences

• Three Possible approaches to diversity
• Level 1: Shun Diversity
• Level 2 Tolerate Diversity
• Level 3 Celebrate Diversity

Shunner’s Profile

• Shunner’s are afraid (sometimes even scared to death) of differences.
• They only accept people that are the same as they are.
• Enjoy ridiculing those who are different, and believe they are saving the world from these terrible people.

Tolerator’s Profile

• Believe that everyone has a right to be different.
• “Keep to yourself, and I’ll keep to myself. You do your things and let me do mine. You don’t bother me and I won’t bother you.”
• They come close to synergizing but because they see differences as hurdles, not as potential strengths to build upon.”

Celebrator’s Profile

• People value differences, see them as an advantage, not a weakness
• Don’t have to agree with the differences
• Diversity=Creative Sparks=Opportunity

Diversity Struggles

• Truth is, celebrating diversity is a struggle for most of us, depending on the issue. For example, you may appreciate racial and cultural diversity and in the same breath look down on someone because of the clothes they wear.

Roadblocks to Celebrating Differences

• Three major roadblocks are:
• Ignorance
• Cliques
• Prejudice

Ignorance

• Ignorance - you don’t know what other people believe, how they feel, or what they have been through.
• Someone who has a disability and asking them what it is like. They don’t know what it is like not to have a disability. Would they ask you that?

Roadblocks cont...Cliques

• Cliques
• Nothing wrong with being with people you are comfortable with, but cliques exclude people that aren’t just like you.
• Breaking into a clique isn’t hard, just lose your identity and jump in.

Continue...

• Prejudice
• Although we are created equal, we are not treated equally
• Have you ever been pre-judged based on skin color, your clothes, your accent, where you live
• Prejudices are learned

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Getting to Synergy - Action Plan

• Define the problem or opportunity
• Their Way (seek to understand)
• My Way ( seek to be understood)
• Brainstorm (create new options and ideas)
• High Way (find the best solution)

Teamwork and Synergy

• Great teams are made up of different types of people
• Plodders - sure and steady
• Followers - supportive of leaders
• Innovators - creative idea people
• Harmonizers - provide unity and support, great synergizers
• Show-offs - fun to work with, add spice and momentum

Closing Thoughts - Synergy

“Alone we can do little: together we can do so much.”

Helen Keller