Diversity and Synergy
Did you know that diversity is the foundation of synergy? I have often used the example of a 10 foot long 2″ X 4″ stretched out across two saw horses. If I pile enough weight in the middle the 2″ X 4″ will eventually break, generally somewhere near the middle. However, if there is a weakness in the board, such a knot, then it will tend to break right there at the point of the weakness. Now, if I have two identical boards, with identical knots in exactly the same place, and I stack them one on top of the other, together the boards will hold more weight, even to the point of synergy (meaning the two together will hold more than double what one alone could hold). However, with the knots in the same place, when the breaking point is reached they will both break in exactly the same place. But if we change the scenario, and the two boards are different, both with knots, but in different places, then where the one board is weak, the other is strong and vice-versa. Because of the differences these two boards can hold more weight than the two boards that were identical.
People are the same. I am pretty proficient and effective in a lot of areas of business. I have stood out as a leader on almost every team I have ever been on, to the point that if given the choice of a team of 10 clones of myself, or 10 people who are totally different than me, I would be tempted (only briefly mind you) to choose the clones. I know what I’m capable of and there would certainly be some advantages in having clone team of Super Kips, but not enough advantages to actually make that choice. I have also learned from experience that as good as I am in some areas, I still have my weaknesses in others. If I chose the clones, and then the project suffered a hit in an area where I am weak, then the whole project would fail because all my clones would share the same weakness. With 10 diverse, unique individuals, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, when we encounter a problem where I am weak, then I have several others in the team who are strong in exactly the place where I am weak. Our knots are in different places, therefor we’re stronger together, and those are differences worth celebrating. The whole really is greater than the sum of the parts, and diversity is the very foundation of synergy.
To Your Success!
Kip Kint
Success Coach