Habit 6 exercises all of the other habits together as one to prepare us for synergy. Covey’s description of synergy is that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” (Covey, 2004). Synergy is also described as the foundation of principle-centered leadership and the ability to unleash the strengths within people to make something greater.
The challenge of synergy is in applying it to the principles of creative cooperation in our social interactions. Covey illustrates the application of synergy in social interactions in settings such as in the classroom, in business and in general communication. In the classroom and in business, synergy is created when we have the courage to be our authentic selves and to open up ourselves to the different and new perspectives. From there, synergy can be formed in team by coming up with new possibilities.
Covey provides a model that relates trust and communication. The point of both the lowest level of communication and trust is characterized by defensiveness, protectiveness and formal language. This level only leads to Win/Lose, Lose/Win or Lose/Lose situations. In the middle level of the model, communication is respectful. However, people in the middle want to avoid the possibility of confrontation, so they communicate politely rather than empathetically. This limits the level of synergy because people are not open to different and new ideas. The highest level of trust and communication leads to the Win/Win situation because people are creatively cooperative in the effort of producing better solutions.
Habit 6 is also about using synergy to Fish for the Third Alternative. This means to compromise by brainstorming for a third alternative which would be better for both parties than their original alternatives. A major paradigm shift is necessary from both parties to have this synergy and level of understanding. A better