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Stronger together: The synergy of unity

“Two are better than one, because they have good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 -12

Teamwork, alliance, co-action, unity, harmony … mutuality! Is it not beautiful when the interaction of elements produces an effect greater than what would have resulted from simply adding up the effects of each element? 
This is synergy. It stems from the Greek word synergos, which means working together. It is achieved when two or more people or organisms work together to create a better solution than either could alone. It is not your way or my way, but a better way, a higher way. If you have served on teams that have succeeded in the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems — as I am sure you have — then you have felt it. Teamwork at its best results in a synergy that can be extremely productive. 

We see such partnerships throughout the plant and animal kingdoms, both within and outside of a single species. Some creatures forge lifelong relationships with other organisms, for ease or for ultimate survival. Stephen Covey said it well: synergy is everywhere in nature! 
These types of alliances are scientifically referred to as symbiotic relationships, which can be separated into three types: commensalism, mutualism and parasitism. Mutualism is the win-win form of symbiotic relationships, with both partners benefiting.

We can think of the bees and the flowers: Bees sip nectar from flowers that are turned into honey for food while the flowers are, in turn, pollinated. Look up at the sky and we see birds flying in a “V” formation as they migrate, each one creating an easier journey for those behind. Wolves, lions and wild dogs hunt in packs – the individual animals have little chance of securing a meal; teamwork secures their survival. Emperor penguins huddle together to conserve body heat and survive harsh winters in Antarctica. On the African savannah, oxpecker birds hitch a ride on the backs of rhinoceroses and zebras, providing parasitic control for the mammalian partners and a food source for the avian one. The oxpeckers also make a hissing sound whenever they are frightened. This serves as an alarm system for their hosts. It is mutualism at its best!

Some synergetic relationships in the animal kingdom are even weird and unlikely. The Nile crocodile is aggressive when an uninvited visitor steps into their territory. However, there is one creature that they not only tolerate but practically welcome into their aquatic domain. The Egyptian plover will fly into the crocodile’s open mouth and feed upon the decomposing meat stuck between their teeth. The plover gets a meal while the crocodile gets some free dental work! 

Many species of shark have established an unlikely alliance with pilot fish. While the pilot fish helps to rid the shark of parasites and clean away fragments of food caught between its teeth, it benefits from protection against other predators. The companionship between these two species is said to be so strong that there are even tales of distressed pilot fish following trawler vessels months after catching “their” shark.

And then there is the beautiful relationship between honeyguides and humans. The eggs, larvae and beeswax contained in beehives are a key food source for honeyguide birds. These birds gain easy access to a meal by leading other honey-coveting species, like humans, to the nest, allowing them to do the hard work of breaking into it. They recruit people with a demanding call, indicating that they have found a beehive. The honey-hunting humans reply with calls passed down through generations and follow the bird. The humans then subdue the bees, such as with smoke. With the bees dispatched and the humans satisfied, the honeyguides are left to dine.

But it is not only nature that provides us with many examples of synergetic relationships. There is also the world of sport. Team ball sports are obvious examples. But in endurance sports, certain examples also stand out. One is cycling. The cycling team’s strategy revolves around the notion that it is easier to pedal when someone is in front to cut the wind. Drafting can save between 20% and 40% of a rider’s energy in a long event. 

Another is rowing. It differs from paddling in that rowing oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks and the rowers sit with their backs to the front (bow) of the boat. Rowing is divided into two disciplines: sculling and sweep rowing. In sculling, each rower holds two oars, one in each hand, while in sweeping each rower holds one oar with both hands. It is a physically demanding sport, a true suffer-fest! One can practice it as an individual by sculling as the only occupant in a boat. But most races are in teams. Arguably the most famous rowing dual in the world is the annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race on the Thames in London. This is done in shells with eight rowers and a coxswain, called eights. 

There are no world records in rowing due to the huge variability that weather conditions can have on times. Instead, there are world best times over the international rowing distance of 2 000m. This is where it becomes interesting. The world best time for a single sculler was set by Robbie Manson of New Zealand in 2017: 6 minutes and 30 seconds (6:30). The best time for an eights boat? 5:18, by the German team in 2017. If we look at Olympic best times, the best for a single sculler is again a New Zealander, Mahe Drysdale at the Rio Olympics in 2016: 6:41. And for the eights? 5:20, by the US team in 2004 in Athens. Hence, we see that eight rowers working together go much faster than an individual can go. This is despite each rower only having one oar and having to drag a coxswain along that does not contribute to the rowing. Watching an eights crew working together in complete unison is an ultimate and awesome example of synergy in sport. It is called “swing” in rowing circles. It creates a fourth source of propulsion – when that rhythm comes, it is pure delight, despite the fatigue and the pain, appreciated by all oarsmen who have ever had the privilege of rowing in a swinging crew.

One of the fundamental qualities athletes learn from sports is teamwork, which mirrors the experiences found in typical job settings and serves as the bedrock of all successful businesses.

As managers, we know that we should never take teamwork for granted. We need to build that sense of unity and enthusiasm that a group of people shares for their common goal. That bonding motivates them to rely on one another to get things done and to overcome obstacles that would have stymied an individual.

Many of us have chosen careers in organisations where many people work together because we like teamwork and the people around us. Indeed, many talented professionals entering the workforce value collaboration and team-based environments. Teamwork provides growth opportunities and can create a pleasant work environment that boosts morale. 

Teamwork is not only essential in bigger corporates but also in smaller professional firms. An obvious reason for teams is skill diversity. Different team members focus on particular jobs due to their specialised skill sets to achieve the overall goal. But beyond this obvious reason, other synergies can also be unlocked. Teamwork among a diverse group of people with unique perspectives will almost always reveal new, fresh ideas, invaluable in today’s competitive business environment. New ideas and perspectives will flow when you create a safe space where individuals can raise their views without fear of criticism.

Another reason is morale. Working together boosts job satisfaction as employees share successes and learn from failures in a supportive environment. Teamwork fosters encouragement, rewarding achievements and creating a cycle of success. Successful teams build strong relationships, often leading to lasting friendships.

As team leaders and members, we can unlock synergies in many ways. We can complete tangible tasks that other members can see. We can be available for communication. We can offer support at every stage. We can ensure that everyone in the team has a clear understanding of the project’s goals. We can encourage social activities to pull members closer together. We can clarify team roles and hold individuals accountable, because, for a team to succeed, it is important that every member completes their assigned tasks. And we can celebrate together. 

Often, as professionals, we do not see an alternative in our endeavours, a different collaborative approach. Fighting harder seems the only way. Fuelled by our passion and commitment, we are often trapped in our endless to-do lists, following the known path of working harder and throwing ourselves into the fighting arena. But as we see so perfectly in nature and in sport, another arena is possible, the synergetic arena. Successful synergies can generate more resources, resilience and rewards. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine our lives without friends and colleagues. As humans, we rely heavily on each other for support and companionship. As the author of Ecclesiastes noted, the strength of mutual strands is not easily broken.