Welcome to Oxenrider on Synergy!

Jack Oxenrider — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:52:51 +0000

Oxenrider is an uncommon name, a Fourteenth Century trade designation. My ancestors were road builders using teams of oxen to move trees, earth and rocks for road construction. Just as modern day highway contractors are often seen in their pickup trucks, my ancestors rode their teams of oxen to their work, carrying the tools of their trade; thus, the name and my affinity to this quaint metaphor and the icon created for this blog. You could say leading and working with teams is in my “DNA.

My home is on the shoreline of a scenic lake surrounded by nature. The lake attracts Canada geese. As these geese take flight, they lift off from the water in squawking discourse. In a matter of seconds, a line begins to emerge from the mass of noise. The line straightens, arches slightly, and then, as if on cue, bends sharply to form a perfect V shape. In V formation the geese fly, move faster and maintain flight longer than any one goose flying alone. Synergy is a law of nature.

I live in the heart of an Amish settlement. During my commute to work, I see Amish farmers using teamwork. Agribusiness may be the earliest applications of teamwork. Teams of horses, mules or oxen can do more work in a day than the same beast working alone. Synergy makes business sense.
As Founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Teamwork, I have over thirty years and thousands of hours in the field of collaborative leadership and teamwork. This experience includes technological, aerospace, project planning, problem solving, research, operations, construction, family business, marketing, governmental, non-profit, church and community work.

As Vice President of the Hillsdale College Dow Leadership Center for Executive Education, one of America’s most respected leadership centers, I have worked with over 2000 businesses and organizations and 10,000 of some of the world’s best and brightest executives.

Why Oxenrider on Synergy? Through extensive experience, I have come to believe in the fundamental activities of collaboration and the dramatic results of synergy. Bottom Line: “People working together in a positive, rational, optimistic, collaborative manner can produce better results than working independently.” My bottom line conclusion is based upon logical, rational, measurable results produced by thousands of teams from executive suites to shop floors. These results are:

Creative and effective solutions to complex problems
Increased understanding and support of the core business
Passionate commitment to the project outcome
Increased participation and buy-in to the project
Contagious energy and motivation
Effective implementation of solutions/plans
Boost in morale and attitude
Growth in individual and team confidence and respect
Improved quality, service and productivity
Significant and profitable bottom-line result