The Principle of Creative Collaboration
Habit 6: Synergize is about working together to find new solutions to challenging problems. Synergy is when the sum is greater than its parts. It’s often expressed as an equation where 1 + 1 = 3, 10, or 1,000. Think of the ingredients in a recipe coming together to create a dish or each instrument in an orchestra creating a song. That’s synergy.
Synergy isn’t an accident, it’s a habit. There’s a process we can follow to get there. For that process to work, we have to live all the other habits. If we’re reactive, directionless, unfocused, fail to consider what others need, and don’t listen to each other, we’ll never collaborate successfully. We’ll also never get to synergy if we don’t value others’ ideas.
It’s truly valuing differences, instead of just tolerating them, that really drives synergy. The ideas and perspectives of others are what allow us to get outside or normal way of thinking to see the world, and the problems we’re trying to solve together, in a new way.
The Steps to Synergy
These are the steps to make synergy a habit:
- Ask: Are we and the people around us willing to try for something new and different? Not my way or your way, but our way.
- Define: Determine what success looks like—what’s our end in mind?
- Create: Prototype and countertype ideas to explore and see what’s possible.
- Arrive: Discover a 3rd Alternativesolution.
“Synergy is not the same as compromise. In a compromise, one plus one equals one and a half at best.”
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Focus and act on what you can control and influence instead of what you can’t.
Define clear measures of success and a plan to achieve them.
Prioritize and achieve your most important goals instead of constantly reacting to urgencies.
Collaborate more effectively by building high-trust relationships.
Influence others by developing a deep understanding of their needs and perspectives.
Develop innovative solutions that leverage diversity and satisfy all key stakeholders.
Increase motivation, energy, and work/life balance by making time for renewing activities.