Synergy
Often when I am trying to make sense of something that is on my mind, I pick a friend and call to ask for advice. More often than not as I am explaining the dilemma, the answer that has been so elusive up to that point suddenly presents itself with crystalline clarity. “Thanks so much!” I say, “This has been very helpful.” And my amused friends always chuckle because they hardly got a word in edgeways.
I can’t be sure if it is the thinking aloud or the fact that another person is putting their attention on the same question at the same time that enables the answers to flow so easily, but my money is on the combined attention theory. Synergy is ‘the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.’ Synergy is what makes brainstorming sessions in the workplace so powerful, it is what makes study groups effective and, through support groups, is what helps people experiencing challenging times able to understand, recover and repair. It is a wonderful and powerful creative force and I don’t think that we harness it enough in our day to day lives.
One of the downsides of living in the 21st Century is the slow but steady erosion of social capital and a sense of community. Because of the internet (and let me say that I appreciate the internet enormously – were it not for the world wide web I wouldn’t be able to send this newsletter into your inbox every month) the need for us to go out into shared spaces is reducing rapidly. We don’t have to go to a bookshop to buy the latest book by our favourite author; we pre-order it online and then it gets delivered to our doors.
Which is all good and well, but by interfacing with our computer we remove the opportunity to be in a ‘community’. As we become more self-reliant we reduce opportunities for synergy. So, instead of ordering your next book online, why don’t you treat yourself to a trip to the bookshop where you can soak up the positive energy of all the other book browsers? You may find yourself drawn to reading things you have never thought of before...
A key reason I offer group coaching processes is the synergetic effect which is so powerful. When a few people come into a room together for a day to think about and discuss a common issue, the insights and learning come quickly, powerfully and much more creatively than in one-on-one sessions. Sharing ideas and experiences and hearing other people’s stories not only results in the clarity borne from synergy, it also creates a wonderful sense of supportive community. Two extremely compelling reasons to sign up for a group coaching workshop!
Upcoming opportunities for synergy and community include:
“Is Work Working For You?” Coaching Workshop Sunday 28 February.
We will spend the day strategically evaluating your current experiences and feelings about work, where you would like to make changes, and how you can go about doing that. To read more about it, click here. The cost is R1400 per person ( bring a friend and you only pay R 1200) and this includes all meals and materials.
“It’s Never Too Late” Adult Child Tele-Classes in March.
Two time slots available for the 4 weekly tele-classes; Tuesdays at 7:30pm SA time (GMT 2) or Fridays at 9:30am. Classes start in the first week of March and are limited to 5 participants per call, so sign up quickly.
The cost is R2 500 per person (includes all course materials and a copy of my E-book: Into the Light: Stepping out of the shadows of a challenging childhood but not the phone charges). If you register and pay before 25 February, you get a R 500 discount!
Please e-mail me to find out more or to register.
Love and best wishes for a synergetic February,
Judy
Synergy
Often when I am trying to make sense of something that is on my mind, I pick a friend and call to ask for advice. More often than not as I am explaining the dilemma, the answer that has been so elusive up to that point suddenly presents itself with crystalline clarity. “Thanks so much!” I say, “This has been very helpful.” And my amused friends always chuckle because they hardly got a word in edgeways.
I can’t be sure if it is the thinking aloud or the fact that another person is putting their attention on the same question at the same time that enables the answers to flow so easily, but my money is on the combined attention theory. Synergy is ‘the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.’ Synergy is what makes brainstorming sessions in the workplace so powerful, it is what makes study groups effective and, through support groups, is what helps people experiencing challenging times able to understand, recover and repair. It is a wonderful and powerful creative force and I don’t think that we harness it enough in our day to day lives.
One of the downsides of living in the 21st Century is the slow but steady erosion of social capital and a sense of community. Because of the internet (and let me say that I appreciate the internet enormously – were it not for the world wide web I wouldn’t be able to send this newsletter into your inbox every month) the need for us to go out into shared spaces is reducing rapidly. We don’t have to go to a bookshop to buy the latest book by our favourite author; we pre-order it online and then it gets delivered to our doors.
Which is all good and well, but by interfacing with our computer we remove the opportunity to be in a ‘community’. As we become more self-reliant we reduce opportunities for synergy. So, instead of ordering your next book online, why don’t you treat yourself to a trip to the bookshop where you can soak up the positive energy of all the other book browsers? You may find yourself drawn to reading things you have never thought of before...
A key reason I offer group coaching processes is the synergetic effect which is so powerful. When a few people come into a room together for a day to think about and discuss a common issue, the insights and learning come quickly, powerfully and much more creatively than in one-on-one sessions. Sharing ideas and experiences and hearing other people’s stories not only results in the clarity borne from synergy, it also creates a wonderful sense of supportive community. Two extremely compelling reasons to sign up for a group coaching workshop!
Upcoming opportunities for synergy and community include:
“Is Work Working For You?” Coaching Workshop Sunday 28 February.
We will spend the day strategically evaluating your current experiences and feelings about work, where you would like to make changes, and how you can go about doing that. To read more about it, click here. The cost is R1400 per person ( bring a friend and you only pay R 1200) and this includes all meals and materials.
“It’s Never Too Late” Adult Child Tele-Classes in March.
Two time slots available for the 4 weekly tele-classes; Tuesdays at 7:30pm SA time (GMT 2) or Fridays at 9:30am. Classes start in the first week of March and are limited to 5 participants per call, so sign up quickly.
The cost is R2 500 per person (includes all course materials and a copy of my E-book: Into the Light: Stepping out of the shadows of a challenging childhood but not the phone charges). If you register and pay before 25 February, you get a R 500 discount!
Please e-mail me to find out more or to register.
Love and best wishes for a synergetic February,
Judy