In this article, I want to share with us very briefly what has been titled The Synergy That Drives Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. I want to start by looking at the word ‘synergy’. What exactly does it mean? What exactly does it connote? Now, when you hear the word synergy, it simply means the interaction or cooperation of two or more elements, substances or other agents to produce a combined effect, greater than the sum of their separate effects. So, in a simple language, synergy simply means to work together or to collaborate to command greater effectiveness than it would have been if I were working alone. Now let's look at an example.

Listen to Podcast: The Synergy that Drives Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

You see, when you take an Ox, it would produce at a capacity of that Ox. But when you take two oxen and you yoke them together, then it simply means they will produce at greater speed and efficiency. This is what exactly synergy is talking about. So, two oxen will produce more effectively than a single Ox. Now let me show us a Scripture that explains this principle to us. I'm just going to show us two Scriptures that talk about this principle of synergy. The first one is Ecclesiastes chapter 4; we're going to read from verses 9-10. It says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”

Now, this Bible passage is simply talking about the same thing, synergy. One thing that we must realize as leaders is that no single individual can get a thing done, the way a collaborative effort will get it done. Now, a single individual can get some things done, but when it involves collaboration when it involves cooperation, there's so much that can be done within a short timeframe that is available. And this is why synergy is very essential when it comes to leadership and Organization Effectiveness, no single individual can get the job done, the way it would have been done if a group or two or more persons come together in doing the same task.

Now, if you look at this second Scripture that I want to show us that talks about this principle, it is in Genesis chapter 11, from verses 1-6. In that passage, we're going to see the power of synergy at work. The Bible says:

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. ³ Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. ⁴ And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” ⁵ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

Now, this passage above reveals in totality what synergy is talking about in leadership and organization. They said: “come let us…” It was not an idea of a single individual, all of them together had the same language, they were pursuing the same dream, they had the same vision and they were working together in tandem towards making sure that that vision, you know, come into fruition. And this is exactly what synergy talks about. Even the LORD, God himself said, this that they had began to do, nothing will be able to stop them. So, when we are talking about organization and leadership effectiveness, it works within the environment of cooperation and collaboration, everyone working together towards the same purpose, towards the same agenda in the same organization.

Let me show us very quickly how synergy works in leadership and organization effectiveness. How does synergy work in leadership and organization effectiveness?

Number one, this point I believe is going to help us. It works through Equal Yoking. Now when you want two Oxen to produce at optimum capacity, what you do is to equally yoke them together, this is what experienced farmers, this is what they do. They don't put two oxen together one with a lesser capacity and the other one with a bigger capacity, they simply look for two powerful oxen that can produce optimum optimally. So, leadership tasks and organizational responsibility must be equally distributed based on individuals’ capacities and capabilities. This is how leadership, you know, and organization effectiveness are achieved.

Everyone must be doing one thing or the other, according to their capacities and capabilities. Now, when this is done, then it brings about leadership and organizational effectiveness. Now let me show us a simple Scripture, Matthew 25:15. It shows us this particular principle and how works. The Bible says: And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Now somebody may want to ask, why didn't he give them five each? Why did He not distribute the talent equally? You know, the answer is simply because they don't have equal capacity. So as a leader within the organization, we break down the organization's task, and then we allocate tasks to every person based on their capabilities and capacities, and what they could do for the dream and vision of the organization to be achieved.

Number two, how do you achieve synergy towards leadership and organization effectiveness? Through Effective Communication. For synergy to take place, there must be adequate and effective communication from the leadership down to the team. Everyone must be on the same page, driving the same organization agenda, pushing the same vision and walking the same path towards that growth and effectiveness that we are aiming at. Now, how can this happen? This can only be realized under the auspice of effective communication. You know, Jesus communicated His intention to His disciples from the beginning. He said, follow me and I will make you. So, if we're going to achieve synergy in our organization's activities, then we must learn how to communicate effectively as leaders.

Number three; how do we achieve synergy? Through Trust and Collaboration. Now, trust is very essential when it comes to collaborating because it would almost be impossible to synergize with someone you don't trust or someone you cannot vouch for. Jesus had to ask Peter three different times whether he loved Him before He could entrust him with anything. Now many of us may assume; why did Jesus have to ask him three times if he loved him? It was because he wanted to be sure if Peter could be trusted. Now, if you look at that Scripture, John 21:15-17, it says:

“So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Now, why were these repetitive questions coming from Jesus to Peter? The reason is that for meaningful synergy to produce a lasting result, then there must be trust, and there must be collaboration and this is founded on the principle of, you know, trust. For me to be able to collaborate with you, there must be trust and there must be what I call synergy. The last one I want to show us is through Delegated Authority. If we're going to achieve synergy in our organization's effectiveness, there must be delegated authority. So, what I've been sharing with us today as leaders, is how we can synergize so that we can achieve effective leadership and effective organizational growth, even as we journey in this leadership assignment.

Thank you for the gift of your time. I believe you learned something on today's podcast. Please feel free to share this podcast with your friends and people within your leadership sphere so that they can get to benefit from what we've shared with ourselves today as leaders. Till next time on Leaderview, remain effective. God bless you.

[Centre for New Dimension Leadership]