Synergize – Achieving More Together in Nonprofits

Teamwork and collaboration are essential for nonprofit success. Learn how Stephen Covey’s 'Synergize' habit and the Foundations for Growth (FFG) approach help nonprofits foster creative cooperation, maximize resources, and drive greater impact.

Ted Bilich

Teamwork and collaboration are essential for achieving meaningful nonprofit impact. Stephen Covey’s habit "Synergize," from his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” emphasizes the power of creative cooperation and working together to achieve more than one could alone. For nonprofits, this habit is critical for fostering innovation and maximizing resources. Risk Alternatives’ Foundations for Growth (FFG) approach supports this habit by promoting a collaborative culture both internally and externally.

The Power of Synergy in Nonprofits

Synergy occurs when the combined efforts of a group of people or organization produce a result greater than the sum of individual contributions. In nonprofits, synergy can lead to innovative solutions, more effective programs, and enhanced impact. By bringing together diverse perspectives and skills, organizations can tackle complex challenges and create more comprehensive strategies. And by recognizing that they are part of an ecosystem, rather than functioning in isolation, nonprofits can benefit from collaborations and joint ventures that unlock value for their mission or safeguard that mission from peril.

How FFG Promotes Synergy

The FFG approach emphasizes that by engaging a team in a joint and ongoing exploration of what is really happening, participants can move from the uncomfortable position of individual angst to a psychologically safe posture of joint awareness and engagement. When we take nonprofit teams through a risk inventory, a series of powerful “ah-ha’s” inevitably occur. Participants learn that others on their team are worried about the same sorts of threats and intrigued by the same opportunities for improvement. They learn that they are not alone, but instead part of a collective that can learn and grow in response to its environment. They learn that cross-functional responses to threats and opportunities are often more effective than individual efforts.

With respect to external synergy, participants learn that one of a nonprofit’s best risk management strategies is to develop and nurture a strong and growing network of external connections. Those external connections can show what responses to challenges have and haven’t worked. They are able to learn from the errors and innovations of others. They also create opportunities for coalitions that can take on issues that individual nonprofits could not address on their own.

Benefits of Synergizing

  1. Enhanced Innovation: Collaborative efforts often lead to creative solutions that might not be discovered individually.
  2. Increased Efficiency: Working together allows nonprofits to pool resources and expertise, maximizing their effectiveness.
  3. Stronger Teams: Synergy fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose among team members, enhancing morale and engagement.
  4. Greater Impact: By leveraging diverse perspectives and skills, nonprofits can develop more comprehensive strategies and achieve greater impact.

Conclusion

"Synergize" is a vital habit for nonprofits seeking to maximize their resources and achieve meaningful impact. By adopting the Foundations for Growth approach, nonprofits can foster a collaborative culture that promotes creative cooperation and innovative solutions.