Model synergy: ask "what would a solution have to look like to address both?"

Use the agreed criteria as a design brief and generate solutions that meet all of them.

Why it works

Treating agreed criteria as a design constraint shifts the cognitive task from judgment (is this proposal good enough?) to generation (what could satisfy this constraint?). Design and creativity research shows that well-formed constraints actually increase solution quality by bounding the search space productively rather than eliminating options.

How to do it

1. State the full joint criteria list as a design challenge: "We need a solution that achieves [A], [B], and [C]."
2. Brainstorm without evaluation — defer judgment until a list of candidates exists.
3. Explicitly look for options that make the apparent trade-off disappear, not just split the difference.
4. Test each candidate against all criteria before selecting.

Evidence

Constraints-as-catalysts is supported in design and creativity research: well-defined problem constraints improve creative output compared to open-ended generation. The specific synergy framing is Covey’s prescription rather than an independently tested technique. (mechanistic)

Evidence is for constraint-aided creativity generally; the claim that "synergistic" solutions are almost always available is motivational framing, not empirical finding.

Common mistake

Settling for a compromise (each side gives something up) and calling it a third alternative — a true third alternative satisfies all criteria, it does not merely average the positions.