Some days, I read passages in these books and can sit down and write out my thoughts right then. Then, there are other times when the passages are so thought-provoking that I need time to digest and reflect on what I have read before putting my thoughts onto paper. The latter was the case from what I read two days ago when starting the Habit 6 - Synergize in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People section.
Covey defines synergy as “that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” And “one plus one equals three or more.” Both are concepts I have been aware of for a long time, but the things that had me contemplating what I was going to write were a bit deeper and required a bit of upfront storytelling for it to be relevant (buckle in, as I think this is gonna be a long post).
For most of my life, I have enjoyed spending time in nature. It has been a place where I find peace and solitude, and up until about 4-5 years ago, it was a place I could go to get away from people. As I have mentioned in prior posts, I am highly introverted and being around a lot of people is not only draining but, because of my neurological issues, can also be overwhelming. While working as a nurse in the emergency department, going out to the mountains to hike was my way of decompressing and reconnecting with myself - it was my way of maintaining my sanity in an incredibly high-stress environment.
However, over the past 4-5 years, I have noticed an unsettling trend that has led me to avoid hiking. Since the pandemic, more and more people headed out to the trails. In general, this is not something I would have an issue with, as I believe that spending time outdoors and exercising is beneficial for people’s health.
However, I noticed that the majority of the people had no idea of how to prepare for a hike (i.e., not taking water, not knowing their route, not having a map, etc.), nor did they educate themselves on proper trail etiquette (i.e., going off trail, picking flowers, moving rocks, leaving trash, etc.). Watching the destruction of my peaceful place was heartbreaking to me.
More recently, I have even read articles where experienced hikers see more of these bad behavior trends and more disturbing behavior, such as people going to the bathroom on or alongside the trail without using proper waste disposal procedures. Even yesterday, I read an article about the insanely large crowds of unprepared people hitting the trails in NH and VT to look at the trees, causing search and rescue teams to come to their aid.
While I fully understand that my thoughts, feelings, and emotions are within my control, I have found it very challenging not to let other peoples’ poor behavior ruin nature for me. I’ll even expand that to just peoples’ bad manners ruining just about everything for me. Damien and I have had many conversations recently about how it seems to have become accepted behavior for people not to acknowledge one another (whether it be a simple text message or email or saying hello to the cashier in the grocery store). It feels like we have become so disconnected from one another that the focus for most people has become solely about them - that no one else exists.
What brings this all back to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is this quote that was written by Covey back in 1989 and something I wish had become true rather than what I am experiencing today as the opposite:
“Could synergy not create a new script for the next generation - one that is more geared to service and contribution, and is less protective, less adversarial, less selfish; one that is more open, more trusting, more giving and is less defensive, protective, and political; one that is more loving, more caring, and is less possessive and judgemental?”
Given the upcoming election, the nonsense that goes with it, and all of the poor manners I witness almost daily, the above quote hit hard. What would that world look like, as Covey describes it? I think it would be a wonderful one.
Changing to a slightly more positive note and returning it to my time working in the emergency department, I realized that the synergy I experienced there was like none other I had been a part of.
Covey nails it when he says, “or perhaps they were in an emergency situation where people cooperated to an unusually high degree and submerged ego and pride in an effort to save someone’s life or produce a solution to a crisis.”
This was something I experienced almost daily, and it gave us all such a high. Working on a team that works so smoothly in a high-tension environment is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.
At the one hospital where I worked the night shift, we were such a tight-knit team that when running a code or a trauma, we could almost do it in silence because we each knew what needed to be done and who was doing what. The flow, the synergy, the commraderie were a rush (and honestly, they kept us going through those long nights in most cases). In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey even talks about his incredible experiences when working with a synergistic team.
This post was much more personal than usual, but business applications still exist. Because, let’s face it, we conduct business as a person to other people.
Let’s commit to taking the first step towards synergy today—whether by acknowledging a stranger, practicing kindness, or being fully present in our interactions. Small actions can ripple outward, creating the kind of world Covey envisioned: one that’s more open, trusting, and connected. The change starts with us.