Habit #6 - Synergize

Celebrate Our Differences

Should everyone feel the same way about things? No, of course not. We all have a free will to have our own opinions and make our own choices.

This is why "synergy" works. Synergy means a combination of ideas adds up to better ideas because many new and better ideas come from piggy-backing onto someone else’s ideas. In math terms, this can mean 1 + 1 is more than 2.

Differences can create opportunities for synergy (as long as they are positive, not negative), so we must not criticize our differences, instead we must value them and celebrate them. Life would be boring if everyone had the same opinion about everything.

Valuing differences does not mean we have to approve or agree with differences, but it does mean that we should respect differences and view them as opportunities for learning. The differing opinions of others and their viewpoints, perspectives, talents, and knowledge are valuable gifts for seeking solutions. These differences enable you to discover and produce things together that you would not have been able to do by yourself.

People’s differences can be appreciated much the same as the different colors of the fall season, each radiant and different, and all are beautiful creations from God.

Look at the different skills needed for a basketball team. Some players are small and can’t get rebounds but are very good dribblers, others are big and good at rebounding but can’t shoot or dribble. Others are in between, average at rebounding or dribbling, but are very good shooters. A good team needs all these skills. The same is true for other sports and other types of teams that have nothing to do with sports. Can a team of plumbers build a house, or do you also need electricians, carpenters, painters, and other types of skills? Look for the good in people and work together in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.

The strength of any society is its diversity, or differences, of talents and knowledge. Accepting our differences and working together makes life most enjoyable and is the only path to peace.