Synergy means two or more people working together to achieve better results than any individual could alone. There are three levels of diversity: shunning differences, tolerating differences, and celebrating differences. Celebrators see diversity as a strength and accept different views without judgment. Some roadblocks to celebrating diversity are ignorance, exclusionary cliques, and prejudice. Getting to synergy involves defining problems, understanding different perspectives, brainstorming solutions, and agreeing on the best path forward. Effective teams consist of followers, innovators, harmonizers, and show-offs who each contribute in their own way.

2. What does Synergize mean? You probably hear the world synergy or synergize and think “Whaaattt?” Well don’t worry it’s simple. Synergy is when two or more people work together to make the final solution or result better then one of them could do alone. Synergy is Celebrating differences. I’ll get to that later. Also teamwork. I am sure you know what that is. Synergy is also having an open mind and finding better ways to do things. TEAM WORK!

3. Diversity It means understanding that everybody or each individual person is unique. You have to recognize everyone’s individual differences. These can be race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, or political beliefs. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance. We have to start celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. There are three levels to doing this.

4. 3 Levels of diversity! Level 1: Shun Diversity Level 2: Tolerate Diversity Level 3: Celebrate Diversity <- Celebrate <- Tolerate <- Shun

5. What is a Shunner? They are afraid of differences. It bothers them when people think or act differently then them. “Why do they think this?” You may ask. They think that because they believe their way is the right way. They are mean and they make fun of people that think differently then them. They think there way is the right way and that’s THAT! These are the people who join groups and cliques because there is strength in numbers. Whatever Your mean HAHAHA! Your wearing tacky knock off cloths.

6. What is a tolerator? That person believes everyone has the right to be different. They are neutral. They don’t like it but they defiantly don’t hate it. “You do whatever you want, and I’ll do whatever I want,” is the way they think. Although they are on the very edge they don’t synergize. Because they see problems not strengths. These people go through life not knowing what is out there or what they're missing I don’t love you but you’re ok

7. What is a Celebrator? Celebrators know the worth of differences. They see them as good things. They see them as strengths. They don’t agree with the differences necessarily but they understand the others views and accept them. They don’t judge but they understand what the other believes and goes with it. They share the similarities but CELEBRATE THE DIFFERNCES! WE ARE DIFFERENT!! AND WE ARE OK WITH IT!!

8. How to celebrate your own diversity. Just stay true to yourself. Think of people with different kinds of diversity like colors on a color wheel. To make a good match you have to have the color next to or across from you. Maybe you really want to be friends with this girl but she is a yellow looking for a violet and you’re a green. Don’t try to change yourself for her just stay true because one day you will find your red looking for a green.

9. Speed bumps on the road to celebrating differences.

10. Ignorance Cliques -> Prejudice

11. Ignorance This is when you have no clue about anything. What other people believe, what they are going through, and what they feel is all a blur to you.

12. Cliques It is ok to have friends and to hang out with them too. But when your group of friends become so exclusive that people too tall, short, black, white, sad, preppy, or happy can’t hang with you then you have a problem.

13. Prejudice When you tell somebody you don’t want to hang out with them because they are to black or white even if they just don't live in the right neighborhood you are being prejudice.

14. Sticking up for diversity Every one picks on people and puts people down that is putting down diversity. But in this story one boy sticks up for diversity. At a young age John always picked on people for their cloths because his were better or their beliefs because his were right. Or at least he thought. One day John was walking home from school and noticed a girl sitting in the middle of the sand pit in the local park crying while a wild pack of teenagers told her, her cloths were ugly and that he skin was too pale and she needed a tan. They also put down her religion saying God was not real so she should stop thinking that. John thought to himself how he would feel if that was him. He jumped over to the pack of teens and proclaimed, “ HEY! Why don’t you leave her alone she is NO different from me, you,you or you,” he said pointing to individual teens, “Sure she may think different but that doesn’t make her wrong. Why would you put her down like that. How would you feel if that was you?” All of the teens knew they were wrong but just walked away. John helped the girl up. The girl thanked him for sticking up for her diverseness.

15. Getting to synergy 5 HIGH WAY 1 Define the problem or Opportunity 2 Their way 3 My Way 4 Brainstorm

16. Define the problem or opportunity It’s simple think of what the final outcome or the situation is.

17. Their way Listen to the person you are reasoning with and understand there side.

18. My way Share your feelings and let the other person know how YOU feel about it.

19. Brain storm This is the beat part think of all the possible solutions. Keep these handy… Get Creative – think of everything. Avoid Criticism – don’t throw anything out. Piggyback – Build on the best ideas.

20. High way Go with the best idea that sprouted from the brain storm.

21. Great Teams Consist of…

22. Plodders- They stick to there job and get it done before doing anything else. Followers- They support the leaders of the group. They go with anything good. Innovators- They are creative and think of the good ideas. They give the pizzazz. Harmonizers- Great synergizes. They are the glue in the group that keeps it together. Show-offs- Fun and creative. Sometimes hard to work with, but they bring the team to success.

23. So in summary Synergy is when two people work together to do something better then they could alone. Three levels of diversity. Shun Tolerate Celebrate

24. Continued… Roadblocks - Ignorance, cliques, and prejudice. Getting to synergy – Define problem, their way, my way, brainstorm, and highway. A good team has – Followers, Innovators, Harmonizers, and Show-offs.