Synergy: When Teams Resonate

I took a day trip to the Atlantic side of the Caribbean Island I’m on to see waves crashing ashore unimpeded by anything since they left Africa.  It is amazing how powerful that water can be, and you could feel it in your chest as the waves crashed into the lava rock.  You can say that if you’ve seen one wave crash against the shore, you’ve seen them all.  But what was readily apparent to me was that each wave was unique.  Some were big, others small. Some had to overcome resistance from a preceding wave that muted its impact and others came in on a wide-open pathway. Each wave is an individual force, shaped by its own journey across the ocean. The wave represents a unique blend of energy, direction, and momentum. Yet, when these waves come together, an awesome symphony of sound and energy is released. 

I know it is a little sad, but I couldn’t help but come up with an analogy where each wave is a team member, each with a different role, background, and expertise. The real power emerges when the forces align, not in uniformity, but in a collective pursuit of a common goal. Just as waves harmonize to create the symphony of the ocean, teams, too, can create something extraordinary when aligned toward a shared objective. 

Waves adapt to the changing landscape of the shore – sometimes crashing forcefully and at other times gently lapping at the sand. Likewise, teams must be adaptable. Synergy thrives in environments where individuals can adjust their approaches based on the needs of the collective, just like waves adapting to the shore's contours. In business, we rarely have the luxury of an unchanging landscape, and the need to adapt and respond appropriately is ever-present.  It’s in these situations that we are often tempted to compromise; to negotiate with whatever we can to try to maintain what we had, rather than recognizing the changing landscape and staying true to our objective. As a friend reminded me, in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey said that compromise is “lose-lose.” Rarely, he said, does the sum of the parts in a compromise exceed 1.5.  Instead, we should look for that third option.  Where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. 

That’s where synergy comes into play.  When the waves join forces to create the impact that thunders in your chest, or when they lap gently at the shore. In each case, the purpose is achieved.  Is your purpose clear and steadfast?  Do your people have the resources they need to adapt and overcome to fulfill that purpose synergistically?  Or do you have such a tight rein that decisions can’t be made without your input?