The document discusses the concept of synergy and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It explains that synergistic relationships are cooperative and respectful, where both parties work together for a "win-win" solution. To achieve synergy, one must seek first to understand others, think in terms of mutual benefits, and value new ideas. The key is moving beyond "either-or" thinking to explore multiple perspectives and possibilities through respectful collaboration.

1. The Third Alternative 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

3. Synergy in Nature?

4. L EVELS OF C OMMUNICATION TRUST Synergistic (Win/Win) COOPERATION Respectful (Compromise) Defensive (Win/Lose or Lose/Win) Low High Low High

6. Independence Dependence Interdependence PUBLIC VICTORY PRIVATE VICTORY Seek First to Understand … Then to be Understood Synergize Think Win/Win Put First Things First Be Proactive Begin with the End in Mind Sharpen the Saw

7. Habit #6 Synergize

8. Principle #6: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

9. “ Our traditional thinking is concerned with: What-IS . It isn’t good at designing What-CAN-BE .” Edward de Bono

10. 1. They are always WILLING to search for a better solution

11. Are we caught in the Intelligence Trap ?

12. Unfortunately, many people with a high intelligence actually turn out to be poor thinkers . They get caught in the ‘intelligence trap’, of which there are many aspects. For example, a highly intelligent person may take up a view on a subject and then defend that view (through choice of premises and perception) very ably. The better someone is able to defend a view, the less inclined is that person actually to explore the subject.

13. So the highly intelligent person can get trapped by intelligence - together with our usual sense of logic that you cannot be more right than right - into one point of view. The less intelligent person is less sure of his or her rightness and therefore more free to explore the subject and other points of view.

14. Problems Risks Judgment

15. Benefits Optimism All Positive

16. Adversarial Thinking Parallel Thinking

18. Ego must be separated from Performance

19. 2. They’re always LISTENING and RESTATING the other position(s)

20. 3. They value , and thus create, more NEW IDEAS

23. What We’re Used To What We Need To Get Used To… Either/Or Thinking Both/And (And/Also) Thinking Argumentation Exploration Universal Absolute TRUTH Relationally Constructed Perspectives Linear Logical Certainty Thinking Multi-Loopy Creative Possibility Imagining