Habit 6: Synergize

Synergy Defined  When two or more people work together to create a better solution that either could alone  It’s not your way or my way, but a better, higher way.  Flock of Geese Story p. 182

Synergy… SYNERGY IS… Celebrating differences Teamwork Open-mindedness Finding new and better ways SYNERGY ISN’T… Tolerating differences Working independently Thinking you are always right Compromise

 Synergy is everywhere  Celebrate differences  All a minority of one  Roadblocks  Stick up for diversity

Synergy is Everywhere  Plants and animals live in symbiotic relationships…food chain anyone?  Group projects  Music bands  No one thing is more important than the other, just different

“Animal school” Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a “New World”, so they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer, all animals took all the subjects. In the end, the duck’s web feet were so badly worn that he couldn’t swim, the rabbit had a nervous breakdown and couldn’t run, the eagle was disciplined severely for getting to the top of the tree without climbing, and an abnormal eel ended up doing best overall and winning valedictorian.

Synergy Questions  What are your unique gifts?  What talents do you need from others?  What qualities often seem like a disadvantage, but are necessary?  How do you contact or talk with people, if you are shy?

Celebrating Differences  Synergy doesn’t just happen, it’s a process, celebrating differences is the foundation to getting there.  What do you think of when you hear the word DIVERSITY?  There is more to it than racial and gender differences.

Celebrating Diversity  Physical features  Dress  Language  Wealth  Family  Religious beliefs  Lifestyle  Education  Interests  Skills  Age  Style  The list could go on and on and on and on… get it?

What Story is This From? We see them come We see them go Some are fast And some are slow Some are high and some are low Not one of them Is like another Don’t ask us why Go ask your mother

Activity - Part 1  Draw a small drinking glass at the top of your paper  You have 60 seconds to think of how many different ways you can use that glass.  GO!

Activity - Part 2  Get with a partner and try and come up with as many more ways to use that glass as possible.  You may use and compare the answers from your individual task.  You have 60 seconds to do this as well.  GO!!

3 Approaches to Diversity  Level 1 – Shun  Level 2 – Tolerate Diversity  Level 3 – Celebrate Diversity

L1 - Shun  “Shunners” are afraid of differences  Only their way is the best way  Enjoy ridiculing those who are different  They are very clique, they like to be surrounded by people who are just like them  What are some examples of “Shunners”?

L2 - Tolerator  Believe that everyone has a right to be different  They do not shun diversity, but they do not embrace it either  Mentality “You don’t bother me and I won’t bother you”  They rarely ever get to synergy because they see differences as hurdles, not potential strengths to build upon (See Lauren, I got it right )

L3 - Celebrator  Value differences  Use differences to their advantage  They have learned that two people who think differently can achieve more than two people who think alike  They do not necessarily agree with those differences, but they value them DIVERSITY = CREATIVE SPARKS = OPPORTUNITY

Some things to Ponder Think about how Diversity can effect you in different areas of your life…  You are hanging out with your best friend and you have the “what do you wanna do”/ “I dunno, what do you want to do”? conversation. BORING!  What if you have a group project, and all of you are good at research, but no one knows Power Point that well or can speak in front of a group of people or can edit a paper, then what???  What if Bill Gates hired people who were just like him. Do you think that Microsoft would be as creative, or would it just be all business?

Minority of One  Diversity isn’t just external, it’s internal.  “We are as different from one another on the inside of our heads as we are on the outside of our heads” – Robert Fulghum  How do we differ on the inside…

We Learn Differently  Linguistic: learn through reading, writing and telling stories  Logical – Mathematical: learn through logic, patterns, categories, relationships  Bodily – Kinesthetic: learn through bodily sensations and touching  Spatial: learn through images and pictures  Musical: learn through sound and rhythm.  Interpersonal: learn through interaction and communication with others  Intrapersonal: learn through their own feelings

We See Differently  Everyone sees the world differently and has a paradigm about the themselves, others and the world.  Once you catch on that everyone sees the world differently, and that everyone can be right, it will increase your understanding and respect for different viewpoints.

We Have Different Traits, Styles and Characteristics  We will be doing learning and personality tests in the next nine weeks to get a closer look at this.

Roadblocks  Ignorance  Cliques  Predjudice  Immaturity

The Cold Within  Six humans trapped by happenstance in black and bitter cold Each possessed a stick of wood, Or so the story's told.  Their dying fire in need of logs, the first woman held hers back For on the faces around the fire She noticed one was black.  The next man looking 'cross the way Saw one not of his church And couldn't bring himself to give The fire his stick of birch.  The third one sat in tattered clothes He gave his coat a hitch, Why should his log be put to use To warm the idle rich?  The rich man just sat back and thought Of the wealth he had in store, And how to keep what he had earned From the lazy, shiftless poor.  The black man's face bespoke revenge As the fire passed from his sight, For all he saw in his stick of wood Was a chance to spite the white.  And the last man of this forlorn group Did naught except for gain, Giving only to those who gave Was how he played the game.  The logs held tight in death's stilled hands Was proof of human sin, They didn't die from the cold without, They died from the cold within.

Sticking up for Diversity  Differences in this world are what make this world.

Actions Steps to Synergy  Define the Problem or Opportunity  Their Way (seek to understand the ideas of others)  My Way (seek to be understood by sharing your ideas)  Brainstorm (create new options and ideas)  High Way (find the best solution.)

“The Vacation”  What is the problem in this story?  What are your parent’s feelings?  What are your feelings and how will you state them?  Brainstorm and think of possible compromises.  What is the best solution (Think Win-Win)

Habits Review 1. Be Proactive 2. Begin with the End in Mind 3. Put First Things First 4. Think Win-Win 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood 6. Synergize 7. Sharpen the Saw