I am at best only a casual student of psychology. Whatever knowledge I have comes from flipping pages of Psychology Today. Probably due to a faulty mailing list system, an unsubscribed copy of that magazien would arrive regularly at our house.
Carl Jung is one of the most frequently cited authorities in many of the articles. And I seem to remember that Covey in his 7 Habit book also mentions Jung.
I have always thought that Jung's synchronicity lines up with Habit 6: Synergize.
Both have the belief that life's seemingly chaotic events follow a pattern. Coincidents add up to produce synergistic results. One plus one sometimes does add up to four or more. The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.
I have witnessed the working of synchronicity and synergy all this week.
Story 1: Close Encounter of the Liked Kind
Last Monday, Kay, Director of Rochester Diversity Council, meets with me to see if I would be interested in joining the DC board. Being passionate about diversity at IBM and now about to retire with more time on my hand, I told her I was interested and would gladly fill out an application form.
The next day, Tuesday morning, I fill out the application form and mail it to Kay. That was that, so I thought. But an hour later, at noon, Roger and I are at our Kiwanis Club West's weekly meeting. Lo and behold, I notice that on the agenda is a topic about diversity. And Kay is the featured speaker. Needless to say, Kay and I were both pleasantly surprised. What a coincidence! I told her if I had known she was going to be at the meeting I could have saved the postage stamp and just handed her my application.
Story 2: "Who are you again?"
Yesterday, after talking to my financial adviser who reassures me I am still good to go financially to retire, I wander into a "job fair" in the auditorium next to her office. I was not looking for anything in particular. I was just curious what was going on. Best Buy was there and a number of other companies too. As I browse around the room half-interested, I come to one of the last tables at the room, the woman behind the table calls out: "Al!" She looked familiar but I couldn't place her. "I am Abbey," she said. I am still puzzled. She went on: "You and I have been exchanging email the last couple of weeks." Then it clicks. I am standing in front of the table of RCTC. Abbey, whom I had met a couple of years ago when RCTC needed help to design a Chinese cultural course, have been emailing with me about the possibility of teaching that class. In our exchange she also became intrigued about LPG. What a coincidence!
Well, how will these two stories play out as far as Synergize goes remains to be seen. But I have a feeling that whatever it is the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.
See this link for today's LPG meeting agenda.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Synergy Definition
I am jotting down some quotes from Covey that resonate with "diversity"--an effort which, up till now, I have tried to model mainly at IBM, and which with my retirement shortly I will do more in the Rochester community:
Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
And,
The essence of synergy is to value differences--to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses.
Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
And,
The essence of synergy is to value differences--to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Habit 6: Synergize
As I count down my days to retire from IBM, the habit of synergize (Habit 6 of 7 Effective Habits) is something that I really want to practice. And it's already bearing fruits.
Through my work with Rochester Diversity Council, having just finished training as a prejudiced reduction workshop facilitator, I have a feeling that what I have done at IBM working to improve the company's diversity initiatives is going to blend in. These two work streams are synergistic and in fact will drive toward my vision of being a subject matter expert (SME) in globalization as a vocation in ACT 2 of my career.
I have an intention to play a role in the creation of an enlightened, holistic global civilization, which awakens to the "middle way" that blends the western scientific and efficient belief systems with the eastern traditions of mindfulness and natural harmony.
As I pay attention to Covey's Habit 6, I can see that synergistic results are happening. In addition to participating in diversity beyond the blue wall, because the work I did helping to support the Chinese Cultural Class at IBM, there is now an opportunity for me to participate, after I retire, to serve as one of the instructors for this course for Rochester and maybe beyond.
The multiplication effects of synergy is everywhere within yourself, family, workplace, neighborhood, the planet and the universe. Keep contributing to its natural growth, from an inner sense of good will, helps it become the New Earth,. Serve the world with good intentions. Sooner or later all things of good intentions will line up.
At least that is my belief.
Through my work with Rochester Diversity Council, having just finished training as a prejudiced reduction workshop facilitator, I have a feeling that what I have done at IBM working to improve the company's diversity initiatives is going to blend in. These two work streams are synergistic and in fact will drive toward my vision of being a subject matter expert (SME) in globalization as a vocation in ACT 2 of my career.
I have an intention to play a role in the creation of an enlightened, holistic global civilization, which awakens to the "middle way" that blends the western scientific and efficient belief systems with the eastern traditions of mindfulness and natural harmony.
As I pay attention to Covey's Habit 6, I can see that synergistic results are happening. In addition to participating in diversity beyond the blue wall, because the work I did helping to support the Chinese Cultural Class at IBM, there is now an opportunity for me to participate, after I retire, to serve as one of the instructors for this course for Rochester and maybe beyond.
The multiplication effects of synergy is everywhere within yourself, family, workplace, neighborhood, the planet and the universe. Keep contributing to its natural growth, from an inner sense of good will, helps it become the New Earth,. Serve the world with good intentions. Sooner or later all things of good intentions will line up.
At least that is my belief.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
At our last meeting, Taylor guided the discussions on Covey's Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. A few interesting points came up:
Q1. Part 1 of this habit is quite easy for me to do as an Asian. But if I do always follow this habit, wouldn't I run the risk of being looked upon by a western company culture as some one who is timid, indecisive? I am worried this idealized habit is not helpful for my career especially in company cultures that reward "shooting from the heap".
A1. It's possible that you could work in an environment where shooting from the heap is the culture. Some organizations do not recognize the power of Covey's Habit 5. They become blind to and unconscious of the truth and will not in the long run continue to succeed. But since Covey and others have been teaching these habits, there are more and more companies that do pay attention. Ultimately, it is really up to you to decide when you want to use this habit. You have the freedom to choose. And when you have faith and do it , you will be surprised how more open people are to returning the favor of trying to understanding you.
Q2. This habit seems to suggest that we need to be still and quiet as we interact with someone. But you say sometimes, we do need to interrupt? When is the right time?
A2. Keeping an open posture, paying attention, be still and not interrupting is still the best approach. When we do interrupt, it is to get clearer meaning what the other person is really saying. Resist the temptation to advice or tell our own story. There are times that we need to summon our courage to say something when we fully understand that our own values and principles are at stake. That really is part 2 of the habit. I myself have learned to speak up when I hear statements that demean people (have racial or discrimination overtones).
Q3. I am aware of my own thoughts as I try to listen to other people. Listening is really not easy for me. It seems I am trying to get ready to advice and respond.
A3. As soon as you are aware of the thoughts, you can whisper silently to yourself, "Pay attention." Do it not as admonishment, but rather a light-hearted reminder. You will find you can be present again.
Q4. I notice there are people who are very witty. They are humorous and they put people at ease. What role does wit have to play in this habit?
A4. Wit and humor is a good skill to have. They are social grace. But there are also people who try too hard to be witty, they are not really listening. They just want to come up with a clever line. Overdoing this would discourage people from opening up to them.
Q5. We find silence very uncomfortable.
A5. Well, go try it sometime. Deliberately fight the urge to speak and just smile and show appreciation. See what happens.
Q1. Part 1 of this habit is quite easy for me to do as an Asian. But if I do always follow this habit, wouldn't I run the risk of being looked upon by a western company culture as some one who is timid, indecisive? I am worried this idealized habit is not helpful for my career especially in company cultures that reward "shooting from the heap".
A1. It's possible that you could work in an environment where shooting from the heap is the culture. Some organizations do not recognize the power of Covey's Habit 5. They become blind to and unconscious of the truth and will not in the long run continue to succeed. But since Covey and others have been teaching these habits, there are more and more companies that do pay attention. Ultimately, it is really up to you to decide when you want to use this habit. You have the freedom to choose. And when you have faith and do it , you will be surprised how more open people are to returning the favor of trying to understanding you.
Q2. This habit seems to suggest that we need to be still and quiet as we interact with someone. But you say sometimes, we do need to interrupt? When is the right time?
A2. Keeping an open posture, paying attention, be still and not interrupting is still the best approach. When we do interrupt, it is to get clearer meaning what the other person is really saying. Resist the temptation to advice or tell our own story. There are times that we need to summon our courage to say something when we fully understand that our own values and principles are at stake. That really is part 2 of the habit. I myself have learned to speak up when I hear statements that demean people (have racial or discrimination overtones).
Q3. I am aware of my own thoughts as I try to listen to other people. Listening is really not easy for me. It seems I am trying to get ready to advice and respond.
A3. As soon as you are aware of the thoughts, you can whisper silently to yourself, "Pay attention." Do it not as admonishment, but rather a light-hearted reminder. You will find you can be present again.
Q4. I notice there are people who are very witty. They are humorous and they put people at ease. What role does wit have to play in this habit?
A4. Wit and humor is a good skill to have. They are social grace. But there are also people who try too hard to be witty, they are not really listening. They just want to come up with a clever line. Overdoing this would discourage people from opening up to them.
Q5. We find silence very uncomfortable.
A5. Well, go try it sometime. Deliberately fight the urge to speak and just smile and show appreciation. See what happens.
A new beginning
Since I am about to retire from my old company, the consensus is that we should continue to support each other in growing leadership skills. We are moving blogging and other group information to the internet. This is the first blog post.
I have moved the some of the LPG Plone Content to this Google wiki site.
I have moved the some of the LPG Plone Content to this Google wiki site.
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