Synergy
People often don’t understand what I do. That’s fairly understandable, as I myself often redefine what it is that I do as I learn more about, well… how I do what I do.
Talk about mediation with someone, they generally think about finding the common ground.
Talk about negotiation theory and strategy, they generally think about obtaining the most value.
If you ask me, they’re both right, and they’re both wrong.
Much of what I do involves identifying and building on synergies. See, people are different. As much as we like to think that deep down we’re all the same, we’re not. We come from different cultures, different backgrounds, we have different skills, we value things differently. In short, we see the world differently. Add to this mix the fact that the world is changing exponentially, and it’s a wonder to me that anyone can get together on anything at all!
But, if you’re careful… if you’re patient… above all if you’re willing to look past the conflict and let go your own preconceptions, there’s opportunity to be found in these differences. I was reminded of this the other day.
I’m somewhat of a pragmatist. While I love creating and am fascinated with underlying theory my focus has always been in the application – I want to play with my new toy.
A good friend of mine is a purist. He loves the theoretical side as well, but he’s an artist – he loves it for itself.
We’d had a series of talks about how to convey to laymen exactly what he does – how to make his world accessible to people (read: clients) who aren’t… well… him. I asked a few leading questions, planted a few seeds if you will, and a couple of weeks later came back to see what had grown. Nothing. Undeterred, I gave him my own answer to see how it would resonate. It was, I humbly submit, brilliant. It was succinct, well crafted and to the point. It was marketable. It was, I thought, exactly what he needed all wrapped up in a shiny ribbon. His response when gifted with the fruit of my genius? “Meh”.
I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t understand how he wasn’t excited. “Fair enough, he’ll come around…”
Two days ago we returned to the theme. He’d been thinking about what I said. “Here it comes”, I thought, “sweet, sweet validation!”. Instead, his answer stunned me. He had taken my answer, my pragmatic framework, and with the addition of a simple concept, two or three simple words, made it art. I was literally speechless. See, I was looking at the metaphorical piano as an architectural masterpiece – he saw music.
We didn’t look for a middle ground. We didn’t compromise. We didn’t debate the concept to see who’s point of view would win out. My friend didn’t come around to my way of thinking nor I to his. Instead, we both brought something to the equation the other was lacking and, in collaboration, came up with something together neither of would have been able to create alone. He was having trouble building the piano; me, I couldn’t play.
Synergy. More than common ground, it’s about new frontiers.
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