In recent months, every time I look up a famous word online, I seem to find a post that offers evidence that the person never said it, or that it came from someone else.Aristotle, for example. never wrote the exact phrase “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. (misquoted). Darwin also said, “It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent one. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” understood. (misattribution). The more I look into the origins of famous quotes, the more I realize how many of these he falls into one of two categories.
That said, countless people have lived by such quotes, and in the case of Aristotle and Darwin, I think both quotes capture the spirit and essence of their respective perspectives. Insightful and uplifting quotes permeate our lives, whether they’re massaged or attributed to someone worthy of words.
Synergy with Aristotle
Google named the study High Performance Team project aristoCongrats on the quote above. It speaks of synergy, that is, “the interaction or cooperation of two or more tissues, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.” I’ve been thinking a lot lately about synergy and its relevance to pianovation, a word that combines “peer” (people like you) and “innovation” (realized creativity). It happens when a diverse, carefully selected group of people who share common goals and values work together to make each other better and create something greater than themselves.
My thoughts on synergy were prompted by a request for an academic recommendation from one of my former graduate students. This particular student was outstanding. She consistently produced her A-level work and, more impressively, made everyone around her better. This ability to positively influence others is what makes a good student different from a good student. The same applies to employees. Good things work at a high level. Great people take entire teams to new heights. So they create synergy by being great teammates.
how to be a great teammate
Geno Auriemma, UConn women’s basketball coach, heads up one of the nation’s most successful college sports programs. Auriemma says finding high school players who promise to be great teammates is harder than you might think. Yet it still matters when it comes to whether UConn invites players to the team. So what does a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts look like? I’ve seen the
- They really care about their teammates. Compassion is the currency when it comes to positively impacting and influencing others. If your fellow students and colleagues believe that you care about something bigger than yourself—a purpose or others—they will follow your lead.
- They set high standards. The trick here is that they care, so they don’t set standards that put distance between them and others. They do so in such a way as to invite others to ride with them. For example, fellow actors in the movie A Few Good Men described Jack Nicholson’s participation as a table lead in the script as a game changer. Nicholson didn’t just say the words. Because he gave a full-throated performance, he invited everyone else to give their best from the start.
- They lead by example. Not only do we set high standards, but we model our daily behaviors to help meet those standards. Elite athletes in every field are the product of talent and a relentless work ethic. For example, a former teammate of Celtics great Larry Bird often commented on how Bird showed up to practice first and left last. When the best players on a team engage in this kind of modeling, it implicitly challenges others to do the same in order to maximize their potential as players for the team. That’s how the best teams consistently compete for championships.
- Again, operating from a place of compassion, they balance challenges with helping their colleagues to be the best they can be. People are open to being challenged if they believe you are with them.
- Proactively celebrate the progress and achievements of your teammates. Being personally and publicly recognized and rewarded can inspire people to reach new heights. Leadership scholars Jim Kozes and Barry Posner call it “encouragement!”
Overview
If you’re an outstanding student or employee, ask yourself if you can hold yourself to high standards and do a great job, as well as make your teammates better. If not, consider five ways you can positively impact the lives of others and your team. Accept this challenge and experience what the Poetic Voice Sekou Andrew stands for in one of my favorite quotes he.
written by Leo Bottery.
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