Archives for October 2015

One of the things I like most with respect to learning about the interworkings of other countries and cultures is when I am able to identify with some of their practices. Learnng about Latin America in partcular has been a very enjoyable subject topic for two reasons. Firstly, because I’ve had first hand experience with people that come from various parts of the region (majority coming from Brazil) so its nice to be exposed to them in another way, majority coming from Brazil. Secondly, because their cultural practices are very interesting and eye catching. After reading the Moran & Abramson (2014) text, it is clear that the Latin American social customs, cultural themes and cultural patterns have some form of symmetry to that of the African American (and American) background I was raised in. However, I would like to note that my described African American encounters do not represent the entire race as a unit, it is just the ones I’ve been around to witness.

Based off the information provided in the Latin American chapter of Moran & Abramson (2014) I would say that the first three customs that identify with what I am consistently exposed to are: greetings, questioning, and privacy. Greetings described by Moran & Abramson (2014) are limited to shaking hands, while from first hand experience I know that most people of Latin America tend to be more personal with their hello’s. For example, my co-worker is from Brazil and upon moving to the U.S. the way he would greet people would be a arm to arm interlock (hug) for gentlemen and that with a kiss on the cheek for ladies. Information provided by Kircher (2015) second my Brazilian observation, and adds that there is no flirting or sexual meaning behind it,that is simply how they interact. In my culture, we are famous for hugging. No matter how long you’ve known the person, if they are being introduced through a mutual acquaintance you will be greeted with a hug and dependent upon the person maybe even a kiss as well.
According to the text, questioning is something that is frowned upon by the Latin American people. From my experience the same can be said with reference to African Americans. With the use of the word “prying”, Moran & Abramson (2014, pg 358) hit the nail on the head with that description. Most people I was raised around got offended if you asked them multiple questions about their lives and typically respond to whatever the question was at hand with “why are you asking all these question?” Privacy is another social custom Latin Americans and African Americans identify with because we do not like intrusions. If a person were to do a “do-drop-in” at my house, my mother would not be keen of it at all. Similar to what is stated in the book, we also are firm believers in knock and wait to be invited in before entering a room.

My final two social customs that relates between Latin and African Americans coincide with one another, they are party traditions and time. For some unspoken reason, at parties women and men are typically congregating on separate side of the room until it is officially time to start dancing with one another. The way in which this relates to time is people of both Latin and African American typically arrive after the noted start time of events. Reasons for being late can range from having car troubles to the infamous reason “nobody goes to parties on time.” In addition to this, Moran & Abramson (2014) state that Latin Americans tend to be late for appointments. I can attest to this based off observing that same Brazilian co-worker discussed above. He found it very hard/couldn’t understand why being on exactly time was critical in the U.S.; I found this particularly interesting and watched his timeliness get better with time.

With respect to cultural themes there are two topics in particular I would like to hit on; the presence of machismo and femaleness. In both the Latin and African American communities, there are both unspoken and spoken gender roles that individuals fall into that need to be followed. For males, both cultures allow machismo (maleness) to be have “aggression, zest for action, daringness, and the will to conquer. There is extreme reservation and questioning of a man’s manhood if they don’t meet the criteria. In fact, just to show how aligned the two cultures are, Latino based fraternity Lambda Upsilon Lambda and African American based sorority Delta Sigma Theta created a program on machismo titled “Machismo an issue for All Cultures.” In the same breath, femaleness is concept introduced by Moran & Abramson (2014) that says women are expected to traditionally supposed to be taken care of by men but in today’s world they are much more independent. I agree with that because a large amount of women in today’s culture (no matter where they’re from) are taking control of their lives by taking care of themselves and living how they please.
Both the machismo and femaleness definitions encompass expected gender roles, it is a
beautiful sight to see that the stereotypical ideas of which sex is supposed to do what are now changing in Latin culture and I hope that it can transcend across all cultural lines.

References:
Kircher. (n.d.). 5 Things Latin Americans Do that Totally Confuse Tourists. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lul/Machismo.htm

Machismo :: An Issue for All Cultures. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2015.

Moran, R.T., Abramson, N.R. and Moran, S.V. (2014) Managing Cultural Differences. Routledge, New York.

Penn State University. (2015). Lesson 08: South America: Focus on Brazil. Retrieved Oct 18, 2015, from Leadership in a Global Context: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa15/olead410/001/content/08_lesson/03_page.html

It’s Brazil. Largely known for its gorgeous beaches, soccer balls and party atmosphere, focusing on business might be a secondary thought. But the fact of the matter is that Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America. According to statistics by the World Bank, in 2014 Brazil was ranked 7^th in GDP in the world. While the numbers pale in comparison to the behemoth economies of the United States and China (ranked 1&2), they were still responsible for nearly $2.5 trillion in gross product (World Bank 2014). This can make them a desirable trading partner in the U.S. and worldwide.

In traveling to Brazil for business, you may notice some varying cultural differences. First of all, the people of Brazil are largely a religious bunch. In fact, 92% of the population claims to be religiously affiliated with 65% being Roman Catholic and nearly 90% being of a Christian denomination (Wikipedia). The native language is Portuguese but many different dialects exist as well as different languages may be spoken depending on what part of the country you find yourself in. Brazil is somewhat of a melting pot with strong Eurasian influences which includes German, Polish, Italian and even Japanese (Moran, Abramson, Moran. 2014) languages and dialects which are spoken in the country. In studying the culture, you can certainly get a step ahead with doing business.

This iconic image of Jesus over Rio de Janeiro in Brazil shows the Christian nature of the citizens (http://www.durhamchurchnc.org/2012/06/26/high-and-lifted-up/).

Now that you know the background, what does this mean for accomplishing business goals? It’s an interesting question for sure. I’ve taken the liberty of gathering what I think are a couple of relevant and important points.

• “Bribes” vs. “Gifts”: What is to be done here? In our learnings, there seems to be some question regarding the policy around this. In the U.S., ethics around the giving of gifts or money to secure a contract can be a fine line to follow. In Brazil, there is a certain expectation that you, as a business person, will be willing to pay out a certain amount (Moran, et al. 2014). While you may feel like this is not something you are comfortable with, you also have to remember where you are at in the world. Do you personal ethics allow it? Is this just learned behavior? Ultimately, that is something for you to decide.
• A local partner is critical: This is not news to people discussing International business. It’s always good to have someone local to let you know what to do and when to do it. In Brazil, this is an especially prominent need. According to Forbes magazine, the legal and tariff system understanding is vital. In a case study, connecting with a liaison is important. Mike Seppo, CEO for Major League Gambling (MLG) stated, “It’s really critical because of the political and tax environment in Brazil.” (Burg, 2014).

All and all, Brazil can be a profitable and contributing business partner. It really depends on what your business ideals and risks can withstand. And also your ethical tolerances. I guess this is something business needs to decide. Are the religious, cultural and political implications something that you can deal with? Do the research for your plan and decide.

Burg, N. 2014. July 15. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/hsbc/2014/07/15/5-key-things-to-know-before-doing-business-in-brazil/

http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP.pdf

Moran, R.T., Abramson, N.R. and Moran, S.V. (2014) Managing Cultural Differences. Routledge, New York.

 

Organizational Culture

Let’s think about what those words mean in a simple form.

How an organization reacts towards people in another organization, is how employees and the CEO interact with each other within the organization.

Meaning it all comes down to behavior in the workplace. And everyone has a way on how to connect to one another. Whether it is competition or just being friendly. The behavior in the workplace is how the firm/company is represented to the world.

When you and your coworker/employee interact together, you form a connection. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s usually determined by how the leader approaches his/her employee and how the coworkers interact with how comfortable they are.

Now how to you do you determine behavior in an organization?

First of all, every organization is different in their own way. Every organization has its own beliefs, culture, ethical standards, and values.

When it comes to culture, people need to understand that it’s critical to understand ones culture before you interact with them. You need to understand their background, beliefs’ etc.

Because let’s face it, we are all different in in the way we grew up and we live different backgrounds from different places around the globe.

Within the Organization a leader can make that happen with making people at work bond together. This can be done by joining employees into teams. Making them get to know each other. Develop trust with the leader. Try not to form In-out groups as much as he/she can.

Then combine synergy and find interests in the people that work for the organization.

Do they follow the ethical standards in the workplace? Do they like working?

How is the atmosphere that is created in the workplace? Do employees get along or is their competition and negativity?

Forming positive competition, enabling trust, emotional intelligence will have a positive outcome to the firm/company when all employees are comfortable together and learning from one another.

They represent the company, and the way they are treated and how they learn different things from different mentalities with a healthy attitude will cause succession as all will be working for a common goal.

I believe this is really important and people take for granted sometimes.

References:

http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-organizational-culture-definition-characteristics.html

Another country that is growing their economy at rapid pace is Colombia. Colombia is located on the North West edge of South America. This country shares borders with the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The climate is that of other local countries positioned along the equator which is very tropical. With a population topping 46 million, they have an official language of Spanish and 90% of their population follows the Roman Catholic religion. (CIA) Year after year their economy is improving and on the right path to continuing their growth.

Year after year their economy is steadily growing and they are making an impact all the way down in South America. Currently, they rank 32^nd in the world for their economy. (CIA) Part of this is due to their extremely low unemployment rank, which recently fell to 8.8%. There was also a job increase of 156,000 when compared to the previous year. (Colombia reports) Heritage.com, a website who produces country’s economic rankings, projects Colombia’s ‘country score’ increasing year after year from a 68 to a 72, out of a possible 100, from 2011 to 2015. (heritage) It is safe to say that the economy is booming and there are a few reasons why.

Petroleum is the main export of Colombia, accounting for over 45% of it. The world has a high need for petroleum and it is only continuing to grow. (Wikipedia) Colombia also ranks 2^nd in the largest producer of domestic electronics and appliance in Latin America, falling short to Mexico. (Wikipedia) But, their biggest growth does not come from either of their two power houses. Growth in the past year has been mainly driven by giants in the sectors of construction (17.2%), services (6.3%) and agriculture (6.1%). (curacaochronicle) Colombia is heading down the right path to be Latin America’s top economy.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to the overall success of the economy of Colombia. Additionally, I believe that Spanish being their official language, and how it is so widely used throughout the world, plays a role in conducting business also. No having as much as a language barrier may open up more possibilities. The unemployment rate is down and the economy growth of jobs, exports, construction, and more are going up. Colombia’s economy is continually improving year after year and will hopefully continue that route in the future.

References

CIA. (n.d.). The World Factbook. Retrieved October 19, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/co.html

Damsgaard, N. (2014, June 27). Colombia’s unemployment rate lowest in 14 years: govt. Retrieved from http://colombiareports.com/156000-jobs-created-may-colombias-national-statistics-agency/

Edition. (2014, July 22). Colombian economy grows 6.4 percent, follows China as fastest growing country – Curaçao Chronicle. Retrieved from http://curacaochronicle.com/region/colombian-economy-grows-6-4-percent-follows-china-as-fastest-growing-country/

Heritage. (n.d.). Colombia Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. Retrieved October 19, 2015, from http://www.heritage.org/index/country/colombia

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Economy of Colombia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 19, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Colombia

 

If you ever visit a country and there’s a Wikipedia page about events that happened while you were in that country, then you know things were interesting! Brazil in 2013 was like this for me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_protests_in_Brazil

I went to Brazil twice in 2013 for work. Ahead of time we were already alerted to high crime rates and had to take precautions when traveling to Sao Paulo. Some of our executives a few years earlier had been rounded up in their hotel room, tied up, and robbed of their belongings. Since that time we always travel with off-duty police officers, and a driver so we never are alone other than in our hotel rooms. Even a day trip to the beach is with a very sweaty police officer that is trying to watch over us while fully dressed and trying to hide the guns he has on him at all times. We stick out.

So we traveled to Brazil knowing ahead of time that Brazil has some issues, but all counties do in one way or another so it wasn’t too unusual. We were there helping our Brazil team prepare for the World Cup and we were looking forward to it.

My second trip to Brazil started out much like the first. The hospitality of the Brazilians was better than I had experienced in any other country I had visited up to that time. We had the normal language barriers, and far fewer Brazilians speak fluent English out and about town than in other countries. Most of my coworkers spoke English fairly well because it is a requirement of the job (we are headquartered in the United States), but you could still tell who the newer employees were because their English was not at a level comparable to the longer tenured employees who got daily practice with English.

On our third day in the country we could tell something was wrong. Our coworkers all seemed very distracted and talking about traffic conditions. We started to get no-shows to our meetings because people couldn’t make it into work. Because our hotel was next to the office we didn’t need to deal with anything outside of work and didn’t know about protests that had started all over the country. Originally protesting a fare increase for public transportation, the protests increased in size and scope to include protests against the leadership in Brazil and rampant corruption. Many were upset that billions were being spent on the World Cup and Olympic construction projects, but millions still lived in poverty and had limited access to good healthcare.

Because we knew the team in Brazil pretty well they opened up a lot about leadership in Brazil. It can be very corrupt. Even recently Brazil is making news for corruption so things haven’t changed (NOLEN, 2015). They have a real leadership vacuum and the country is paying the price for it. As our reading this week indicated, voting is compulsory for people aged 18 and 70 (Penn State University, 2015). To many this sounds great, as it forces an active voting population and everyone has “skin in the game” so to speak. To my surprise, our hosts pointed to this law as one of the problems in Brazil. Many people uneducated to any issues or whom they should vote for are voting for less than noble reasons. Many votes are purchased via Unions or other corrupt means.

Our trip ended with us heading to the airport early to avoid a protest planned for the freeway heading to the airport. We got there and checked in just fine. However, the airport closed and locked down with us inside of it as the protestors descended on the airport. Outside we would see police surrounding the airport firing tear gas as the crowds trying to disperse them. All flights in and out of the airport were canceled and we had a very long night in the airport, finally flying out the next day. It was quite memorable!

Despite the high crime and political unrest I’m still a big fan of Brazil. The people, culture, and food are amazing and make up for any other shortcomings. I think Brazil is a really good example of how a good group led by bad people can have huge negative implications and why global leadership is so important to all.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

NOLEN, S. (2015, Oct 12). Multiplying corruption charges opens way for impeachment for Brazil’s president. Retrieved Oct 18, 2015, from The Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/multiplying-corruption-charges-opens-way-for-impeachment-for-brazils-president/article26775119/

 

Penn State University. (2015). Lesson 08: South America: Focus on Brazil. Retrieved Oct 18, 2015, from Leadership in a Global Context: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa15/olead410/001/content/08_lesson/03_page.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be a good international businessman, it should be evident that you need familiarize yourself with the company and culture of whomever you are trying to do business with. Moran & Abramson (2014) imply that people of other countries specifically those in the Middle East have very specific ways of handing transactions not only in comparison to Westerners but with other countries in their own territory as well. According to Moran & Abramson (2014), do a very good job of outlining the various practices should be taken into account when interacting with Middle Eastern (specifically Israelite) businessmen they are: knowing appropriate greetings, gestures, social occasion behavior along with being a experienced negotiator, being conscious of time and the gift giving protocol. Once the opposing party sees that they are going along with their cultural practices it typically calls for a better platform to conduct and convey ideas. I too have been in situations where adhering to someone else’s cultural/business style can be advantageous to both parties. Therefore, I will describe how I’ve made a connection that allows this to be taken out of the Middle East and Western partnership context and applied to a real world situation.

Since 2013, I have maintained the position of a Program Assistant that works with both Ritner and Wolf Hall. As a Program Assistant, I act as an academic resource and in-house mentor to over 300 first-year students, they are referred to as “residents”. Within my roles, I have various obligations that include helping student better acclimate to Penn State’s campus and hosting educational programs throughout the year. Periodically, our staff is asked to collaborate with the Resident Assistants in our building. Here is where the Middle East connection comes into play, although both Program and Resident Assistant’s are there to help students in many ways, the cultures of these two groups are very different.

When doing business with Resident Assistant’s we have to be very mindful of the logistic details and content of our programs. The Program Assistant culture operates on a very laid back, laissez-faire business type but when approaching Resident Assistant’s we have to be much more formal. Recommendations and things that our staff has learned when dealing with one another is to similar to a few of the tips outlined in Nettresults (2015), to have clear oral and written communication along with realizing that timing is of the essence. Moreover, Moran & Abramson (2014) make it a point that for each country highlighted there is a “as they see us” section. By discussing this amongst ourselves, my team realized that the Resident Assistant group does not see us on the same level as they are for a number of reasons but namely because of our easygoing and relaxed method of doing things as they come about business plan. They can be seen as rule-sticklers and have to follow precise protocol so when we approach them we are on our p’s and q’s. This works to destroy that negative association to not only impress them but to make them more inclined to work with us.

Conclusively, handing business with people of the Middle East can be done in a much more fluid manner if the party that approaches them is aware of what is culturally acceptable and what is not. Moran & Abramson (2014) imply that starting off on the wrong foot and be easily avoid when people mind other’s are aware of each others customs and protocol. I can personally attest that there is truth in this based of my Program and Resident assistant experience

References:

10 Tips on Arab Culture for Successful Business in the Middle East. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9XoD9V9Bvg

Moran, R.T., Abramson, N.R. and Moran, S.V. (2014) Managing Cultural Differences. Routledge, New York.

 

When some Americans hear about the Middle East, they instantly think sand, deserts, and camels. Not only is that highly stereotypical, there is always more than meets the eye. When western people hear the country Saudi Arabia, they instantly think of oil. That makes sense because they are currently the world’s largest oil producer and largest exporter. (Royal Embassy) But what not a lot of people know or realize, is that Saudi Arabia is also very technically inclined, especially when concerning biometrics.

When you learn about a culture that you are unfamiliar with, you need to approach it with an open mind. Here in America, if someone were to ask me for my DNA or biometric data, I would simply reply “Get a warrant”. Saudi Arabia, however, on the other hand has a huge initiative towards collecting and using biometric data. “Fingerprints and biometrics will be taken at the time of entry into Saudi Arabia and/or upon renewal of the dependent’s Iqama.” (Relocate). Iqama, before mentioned, is a type of passport. This is very important to know before travelling to the country, because here in the United States, you need a court document to obtain something like that.

Citizens and foreigners are required to submit data in an attempt to eradicate crime. “Saudi Arabia plans to build one of the biggest biometric centers in the world, which will contain the eye, facial and finger imprints of almost 30 million people, a biometric expert told local media.” (Riyadh) This is a huge push and a great step in the right direction in order to deter crime. Since everyone’s data will be on file, there will be a much higher success rate in identifying criminals. Of course, this brings up a ton of ethical dilemmas and scenarios, but after initially being reject, the users later accepted it after realizing the benefits. (Riyadh)

In a 2014 article researchers found that “52 percent of smartphone users want to use their fingerprints instead of passwords and 48 percent are interested in using eye-recognition to unlock their screen. A total of 74 percent believe that biometric smartphones will become mainstream during 2014.” (Jeddah) When hacking is a common talked about event that happens daily, security is a must. Technologists and everyday people alike are seeing the increase need of security. Biometrics is a pretty good way at developing a new way to secure things.

Learning about a country that you plan on visiting is a great idea to familiarize and prepare yourself. Understanding cultural differences is a great step but also learning about something important like the big push of biometrics that Saudi Arabia is implementing. I could definitely understand the hesitation from westerners because this is something definitely out of the norm for us. But by knowing this beforehand, would allow us to handle the situation accordingly instead of being blindsided by it.

(Image courtesy of “http://www.secretsofthefed.com/bankers-ready-give-finger-barclays-launch-blood-flow-access-screening/”)

References

Jeddah. (2014, January 9). Top 10 tech trends for 2014 in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved from http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/digital/2014/01/09/Top-10-tech-trends-for-2014-in-Saudi-Arabia-.html

Relocate. (2015, February 23). Saudi Arabia: Dependent Visa holders subject to biometric submission. Retrieved from http://www.relocatemagazine.com/news/reeditor-02-2015-saudi-arabia-dependent-visa-holders-subject-to-biometric-submission

Riyadh. (2014, March 21). World’s largest biometric center planned | Arab News. Retrieved from http://www.arabnews.com/news/543586

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. (n.d.). Oil. Retrieved October 11, 2015, from https://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/energy/oil.aspx

 

Synergy of Teams at Work

Synergy is a collaboration of a team of individuals in order achieve a common goal. In order for that synergy to happen, a team must be developed. The process of becoming a team doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and experience. “Most agree all teams go through the four states of forming, storming, norming, and performing.” (Moran). I am currently a member of a team of 15 coworkers at Verizon that have over three years of working with each other. Each of the four states that a team goes through is crucial in order to achieve synergy in the organization.

Forming is the first state and is basically an introduction to the team. Everyone has their own personal reason for being here and everyone is aware that there are certain goals and tasks to get started on. “This stage can last for some time, as people start to work together, and as they make an effort to get to know their new colleagues.” (Mind Tools). This is a very important state in which the group learns about their counterparts and start the very beginnings of working together. When my team first started, we did a variety of common business exercises in order to get to know each other through our training, by taking turns to tell a little bit about ourselves and a fun fact. Once the introductory state is out of the way we progress to the second state.

Storming is the state where many teams fail. Once everyone gets to know each other, differences may arise which can cause tension, arguments, and other issues. “Storming often starts where there is a conflict between team members’ natural working styles.” (Mind Tools). In my team, we use a proprietary system that is custom and unique to the company. Many of the members were against using it and knew other ways that were better, but because there is a specific process that has to be followed, we had to accept that and move forward. Teams who successfully make it through this crucial state have a much higher chances of success.

Norming is the state of acceptances and perseverance. Team members recognize each other’s differences and are willing to work together for the sake of the team.  As members get to know each other more and strengthen their relationship, new issues may arise. “There is often a prolonged overlap between storming and norming, because, as new tasks come up, the team may lapse back into behavior from the storming stage.” (Mind Tools). At Verizon, we continually did small activities that everyone participated in and had a role in to enforce cohesion. After this there is only one state left.

Performing is the state where everyone is motivated, knowledgeable, and cooperating with each other. “The team members are now competent, autonomous and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision.” (Mind Tools). This is where synergy is really starting to take place. When my team reached this state we were able to work effectively with each other, affect constructive criticism, and grow with each other in order to achieve our goal in working for our company.

There are four states in which a team must go through in order to achieve synergy. This process is not an easy or a quick one, but is commonly agreed that it is necessary in order for a team to be successful. Not all teams are able to successfully make it through and some end up failing. Each company or organization may handle the growth and development of each state differently, but they all have a common goal at the end and that is to achieve synergy.

 

References

Learn Management. (n.d.). Forming, Norming, Storming, Performing : Tuckman Group Formation. Retrieved October 4, 2015, from http://www.learnmanagement2.com/formingnormingstormingperformingbrucetuckman.html

Moran, Robert T.; Abramson, Neil Remington; Moran, Sarah V. (2014-02-24). Managing Cultural Differences (p. 268). Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

Mind Tools. (n.d.). Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing – From MindTools.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm

 

I’m going to talk about synergy and its importance to organizations.
Synergy is a process where the interaction of two or more agents or forces combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Synergy leadership is a reality created by the conditional interaction between formal leaders and all other individuals creating value for the organization. The product of Synergy Leadership is a phenomenon having the combined effect of the relationships far exceeds the sum of their otherwise individual effects. (adapted from B. DePorter, 1992). The greater value of the combined effect results from individuals working together in mutually enhancing ways to achieve success by inspiring one another to set and accomplish both personal and organizational objectives.
Synergy is defined by Curley (1998, p. 70) as “an evolving phenomenon that occurs when individuals work together in mutually enhancing ways toward a common goal.” Synergy Leaders must take the responsibility for helping to establishing the environment where this kind of enhancing can take place.
When defining and understanding synergy we need to look to the past to try to understand the future by that what is meant is unclear and ambiguous. Synergy is not something we can hold in our hand but the term implies a multiplier effect which can allow the energy of individual work or service. “Fuller” was the person most responsible for making Synergy a common term.
Example: The leader must create a vision of the idealized organization first and articulate how team members can share thinking productively as a core competency to support the organizational structure.
Finally, Synergy goes beyond just team work. It needs perseverance, dedication and effectiveness to really accomplish synergy in the work place. And the leader needs to understand all these traits to establish a great work environment and accomplish the required goals.

References:

http://study.com/academy/lesson/synergy-in-business-definition-examples-quiz.html
Moran, R.T., Abramson, N.R., Moran, S.V. (2014). Managing cultural differences. (9th ed.) New York, NY: Routledge.