Welcome back Viphilus*
Well, we are getting close
to the end of the 7 habits. Today we look at the biblical inspiration behind
Covey’s 6th habit: to synergize.
First, a quick understanding
of synergy is in order. According to Wikipedia, synergy is the creation
of a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. The etymology is
Greek from a similar sounding word which means, “working together.”
There are dozens (maybe
hundreds) of uses and examples. It is about the ability of a group (of people
or things) to outperform even the very best of its individual members because,
in a group, weaknesses are masked and strengths are exploited. In many cases,
it is the chemistry of the combined parts
that create a new capacity or ability.
In the New Testament we need
look no further than the Apostle Paul’s extensive discussion of the church
being analogous to the human body. Paul goes into some detail to draw the
conclusion that the mission of the church can be accomplished only by being
united in mind and heart through each member deploying their unique skills in a
synergistic way. Many of today’s secular organizational mantras of, “unity through diversity,”
find their roots in 1 Corinthians 12. Picking up in the middle of the text, we
read:
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many
parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one
Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up
of one part but of many.
Now
if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,”
it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should
say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for
that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where
would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the
sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body,
every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? As
it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The
eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the
feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less
honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are
treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special
treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts
that lacked it, so that there should be
no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each
other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is
honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now
you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of
helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all
have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now
eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Paul continues this
discussion in chapter 14 but takes an important parenthetical side-step
(chapter 13) to address the key attribute that facilitates the analogy working
in the church: LOVE. Love is the binding mindset that allows each member to see
that his/her role is no more/less important than any other and that the success of
the whole depends on the success of each of the individuals. This theme of
cooperation, collaboration and interdependency literally forms the DNA of the
New Testament writings and is why a measurable percentage of those writings are
like a broken-record reminder of the importance of getting along, valuing
others and being “of one mind.”
Covey’s model of maturity
shows us moving from dependence to independence to interdependence. We are born
dependent on our parents. We then learn to take responsibility for ourselves
(from tying our own shoes to accepting blame for our own mistakes to developing skills
and honing our abilities). Finally, we shift to interdependence where we look
out for each other, we bring our unique skills and qualities to the community
to supplement/compliment what is already there, and we set the health of the
community above our own.
Here now is my own biggest take-away, from experience, that comes out of this maturity model of moving from dependence to
independence to interdependence; risk increases as we move in
the direction of maturity because that move results in complete shifts in
lifestyle paradigms. Let's look at each transition.
1. In dependence we live in comfort where
everything is done for us because of our vulnerability. As we move to
independence it can be scary because of the risk inherent in leaving our “comfort
zone,” as we start doing things for ourselves. The reward, however, when we get
there, is a richer emotional state that I will call happiness. We work to make
ourselves less vulnerable because we are now in control of our own world, no
longer relying on our parents or guardians. This results in a pleasing sensation.
2. The second move from independence to
interdependence is stressful again because after all the effort to develop
invulnerability, we now have to yield control once again. But this time it isn't to an individual or a couple of parents. It is to a larger group or groups, thus making us
potentially vulnerable all over again. But this time, we do it by contributing
to the larger group and surrendering the need to have our own basic needs met.
The upside is that this can be the most rewarding state of all if done intentionally. In describing
it I will use the word joy as an up-sell to replace happiness.
I recognize that my semantics may be awkward, or even inappropriate for you, so find the word that fits your understanding. My main point though is
that while happiness is less comfortable than comfort (pun intended), it is ultimately more fulfilling than
comfort. Likewise, joy is better (more fulfilling) than happiness. There is a risk in moving
in the direction of maturity … but my own experiences have taught me that it is
worth the risk.
To develop the habit of
intentionally synergizing is really to develop the habit of maturing: growing
up. Fear can keep us locked into comfort or simple happiness, but the downside
is that both of those come with a time-limited return on investment; the
fulfilling aspect of each fades with time. This fading reward should stir the
motivation to keep moving towards interdependency. Instead though, what I’m
witnessing around me is a growing trend in people to become stuck in dependence
or independence and then suffer the anxieties that inevitably come from living
a life that is not-well-lived (because on the inside, we know it isn’t right).
Covey encourages us to
synergize not just to accomplish more and to ultimately be more effective (which
are both true), but also because this is where the spectrum of life’s peak
experiences can be found. If you don’t believe me or Covey just don’t shoot the
messengers. It’s from the Bible.
I hope to see you back next
Monday for our look at the final habit.
Blessings Viphilus,
Your friend, Omega Man
* Viphilus means, "lover of life"
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