Synergy… happens when the talents of two or more people add up to more than the sum of the parts.
Stephen R. Covey
Through Synergy
Topic: Justice, Vision, & Leadership
You get to the 3rd Alternative through synergy, which happens when the talents of two or more people add up to more than the sum of the parts. Synergy starts when I go to a person I differ with and say, “You see things differently. I need to listen to you.” It’s exciting when you truly hear out divergent views and you start to see how to bring them together for a solution nobody ever thought of before.
Stephen R. Covey was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 24, 1932, and he passed away on July 16, 2012. He was more than an educator and author; he was also a family man deeply rooted in his faith. Covey was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His belief in God and universal principles significantly influenced his teachings and writings. Married to Sandra Merrill Covey for over 50 years, the couple had nine children. Covey's family life and faith were central to his understanding of leadership and personal effectiveness, themes he explored in books like "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families."
Covey was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death. But he was best known for his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." This book was part of a broader collection of works that also includes titles like "First Things First," "Principle-Centered Leadership," and "The 8th Habit." These books weren't just about being effective in business; they were about how to live a balanced, meaningful life.
Stephen R. Covey left a lasting impression through his teachings and writings, but perhaps his most enduring legacy is the way he lived his life. He emphasized the importance of character, integrity, and ethical leadership. These were not just principles he talked about; they were principles he lived by. His lessons continue to influence people all over the world, encouraging them to lead lives that are not only effective but also grounded in good values.
The 3rd Alternative
Covey, Stephen R., and Dan Schawbel. “Stephen R. Covey Explains The 3rd Alternative.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 5 Oct. 2011, www.businessinsider.com/stephen-r-covey-explains-the-3rd-alternative-2011-10.
Stephen R. Covey
Theme: Leadership
About This Stephen R. Covey Quotation [Commentary]
Stephen R. Covey’s insights into synergy reveal the power of collaboration beyond simple cooperation. His idea that synergy occurs “when the talents of two or more people add up to more than the sum of the parts” highlights the crucial role of diverse perspectives in crafting superior solutions. In leadership, fostering an environment that values and integrates different viewpoints is key to unlocking innovative outcomes. Covey’s concept suggests that effective leadership is about transcending personal biases, valuing others’ insights to achieve collective excellence. This approach not only respects each team member’s contribution but also sees diversity of thought as essential for creativity and decision-making.
The provided context further explains how synergy leads to the ‘3rd Alternative’—innovative solutions emerging from the blend of differing perspectives. Covey outlines the importance of listening and being open to others as fundamental to this process. This methodology offers leaders a guide to creating an inclusive culture that uses conflict and diversity as springboards for innovation. It illustrates Covey’s belief in the power of collaborative intelligence, enhancing problem-solving and strengthening team cohesion, thereby nurturing a sense of shared purpose.
Covey’s teachings, enriched with the philosophy of Ubuntu, present a compelling model for contemporary leadership. This approach emphasizes community, interconnectedness, and mutual respect, urging leaders to look beyond transactional relationships to the deeper human connections in teamwork. By adopting this philosophy, leaders can address today’s challenges with strategies that respect everyone involved, promoting an environment where innovation and respect thrive. Covey’s vision for leadership and synergy offers a clear direction towards a collaborative, respectful, and forward-thinking future.
Peter Fritz Walter’s Commentary
The 3rd Alternative Leadership and Conflict Resolution approach was developed as an extension of the 6th Habit: Synergy. I personally see the emphasis more on the conflict resolution function this approach facilitates and believe that the methods taught in The 8th Habit are largely sufficient for leadership purposes in general. But as life in general, and human relations in particular, always engender problematic situations, we can easily see that we need to be prepared ‘for a leak in the boat’ — as the I Ching expresses it.
The present book shows how extensively Dr. Covey has learnt both from Middle Eastern cultures, from African traditions, and from the wisdom traditions of the Far East. The book abounds of examples that show how cross-culturally Covey has worked perhaps all his life, but especially in his later years….
Regarding the second paradigm, I See You, I found it highly interesting how Covey came to find this idea realized in the Bantu wisdom of Africa. It is called Ubuntu and means something like ‘personhood’ — or interdependence between people. Even more so, it means that we can only accurately know ourselves when we see ourselves reflected in the eyes of another person. Thus, we really need others in order to recognize who we truly — and fully — are! Covey explains that the spirit of Ubuntu is essential to 3rd Alternative thinking and that it means more than just having respect for all sentient beings. It means to overcome the dehumanizing influence of our machine age and recognize our own humanity in the eyes of another, or a whole group of people: “This dehumanizing of others — what we often refer to as stereotyping — starts from a deep insecurity within the self. This is also where conflict begins. Psychologists know that most of us tend to remember negative things about others more than positive things.”
— Peter Fritz Walter [Servant Leader and Career Design blog, Human Potential Media Producer, Philosopher, Political Analyst (www.ipublica.com)].
Resources
Related Quotes
Copyright © 2017 – 2025 LuminaryQuotes.com About Us