Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Deny the fact who can,
“This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast’s tail to grope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
-John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) (edited version)
Seek Synergy
People who think, get in sync!
Synergy is that special power that we all take for granted. We recognize it by saying: “It’s the energy,” “the chemistry,” “the stars lined up for us,” “we just clicked,” “we had a meeting of minds,” and “we were in the zone.” It is an unexplainable experience that always leaves us saying: “WOW! That felt great!”
Synergy comes about when a project or specific job is integrated and aligned and when the team members are mentally and emotionally in sync–committed to a shared destiny.
Rather than expecting Synergy to happen by luck, chance, or fate, choose to seek Synergy by taking the initiative to look for it in every job, every function, and every relationship.
Continuous improvement is the bedfellow of Synergy. Synergy is about leaning positively into a job and seeking each day to improve quality, service, and teamwork. Make 1+1=3 by looking for ways to improve a job, connect with others and “WOW” customers. It is an optimistic, practical, and strategically prudent way to take everyday work situations and problems and focus on finding the best solutions. It’s about going the extra mile with internal and external customers – exceeding their expectations. Personally, it is about doing the best job you can and then a bit extra. When people are giving a bit extra, it’s not uncommon for a seemingly average team to begin achieving the extraordinary through the practice of Synergy.
Synergy always works, if you work at it. Synergy means more “we” and less “me.” The key is a heightened sense of awareness. Awareness will allow you to discover the power of Synergy. When people are cooperating and combining energies in the present, there’s magic in the air. Interestingly, the lowest form of energy in the universe is matter, and the highest form is mind energy. The power of directed and focused mind energy can change many things about the way you relate to yourself and the world. Great discoveries and fortunes have been made by those who have understood how to direct energy and the dynamics of related activities.
“Men stumble over the truth from time to time–but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”
-Winston Churchill
Like the Canadian geese, bees synergize, too. In the winter, bees create what is called the “bee winter dance.” They form themselves into a ball and start moving, and the energy they create keeps the whole ball warm. The bees in the middle of the ball change and go out to the outside and the outside ones go to the inside, in a kind of shuffling dance. Through that movement, they are all able to survive the cold of winter.
The Father and His Sons
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he was determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose, he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the bundle, took the sticks out separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily.
He then addressed them in these words: “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
-Aesop’s Fables
Talk It Out
Synergy is a conspiracy to overthrow conflict and hate!
If you’re angry and upset, don’t transfer your negativity on to someone else. A cat-kicker, Zig Ziglar says, is someone who kicks other people emotionally. This affects profits, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Anything can be resolved if people are willing to talk things out. Often, two people in an argument allow their egos to take over, and that’s when the anger and screaming begins and resentment sets in. Work on maintaining a professional problem-solving attitude and be objective during conflict. Stay emotionally in the present and don’t take things personally. Maintaining your objectivity is of immense value in resolving differences of opinion.
When Quincy Jones recently rerecorded “We Are the World” for the refugees in Haiti, he posted a huge sign outside the studio that read, “Leave your ego outside.” That sign affected all the big personalities who came to take part in the recording, and synergized the performance. The song became extremely popular and came off with so much positive energy, it was felt around the world!
20 Ways to Build Trust
1 Trust begins with yourself. All relationships begin with the relationship you have with yourself.
2 Be competent in your work. You have to be trusted to do your part to make the team successful. Be predictably responsible in your actions. Make the right choices. No right thing can come from wrong thinking.
3 Be reliable. When you say you will do something, keep your word.
4 Be responsive. Respond directly to people: make eye contact, have a firm handshake, and have good manners.
5 Be accountable. Accept good and bad circumstances and situations. Don’t make excuses when you fail. Be objective and fix it. Show your strength of character under adversity.
6 Be honest. Don’t embellish, exaggerate, selectively leave out information, or be afraid to express your opinion. Do not lie, cheat, steal, or deceive in any way–for anyone–for any amount of money.
7 Be loyal. Self-serving people are never trusted. Loyalty has a lot to do with trusting yourself and your ability to keep the promises you make in both your personal and business relationships.
8 Transparency. Be open and share yourself to a level of acceptable comfortableness. Politely share your opinions with others. Let people know where you stand.
9 Give sincere compliments, not false flattery.
10 Authenticity.