Valuing Individual Differences - Key To Team Success

By: Andrew Cox

Seeing things in a different way can be the road to success. Leaders place a high value on being able to see things through different lenses. Successful problem solving teams and project teams value individual differences as the means of arriving at innovative ways to meeting their goals.

Most of us - based on our personal set of values, experiences, and a wide variety of other factors, develop a unique view of whatever we come in contact with. We each see things a little differently. In those differences lies tremendous value to ourselves and to others. It can be our greatest strength.

The keys in valuing differences as key to team success involve two dimensions.

The first is the external dimension - the overall team dimension. It's the team's ability to encourage, listen to and use the differences of team members to arrive at solutions and processes that far exceed in value and impact what any one member could provide. It can get messy. There is no learning without conflict. The ability to focus that conflict constructively is the highest order of skill in a team.

The external team dimension requires three critical elements to maximize the value of individual differences.

1 - Clear unambiguous structure focused on the goals of the team. Clear goals, sufficient resources, and effective team composition that recognizes cross functional contribution are all crucial to team success.

2 - An investment in team development of communication skills and the development of an understanding and acceptance of different behaviors, values and skills as essential to the best possible outcome.

3 - It's crucial that leadership and sponsorship of teams be assigned to the top line leaders who will directly benefit from the team's contribution, as the means of keeping focus on results.

The second dimension - the internal dimension - is the ability and willingness of qualified individual team members to value differences and share their unique perspectives.

This internal dimension requires the following from individual team members

1 - The conviction that the power of the group is greater than the power of any single individual.

2 - A willingness to share with others - and the communication skills to do so.

3 - An attitude and belief in plenty - plenty of opportunity for contribution, plenty of recognition for participation, plenty of reward for accomplishment.

4 - Having trust in their own perceptions - and believing their view is as valuable as anyone else's.

5 - Persistence in presenting individual views - while at the same time broadening individual views through listening and interacting with the views of others.

6 - A climate and culture that accepts and encourages differences.

7 - The maturity to persist even after individual views are not accepted as part of the solution.

8 - A respect for leadership and a respect for followership. In any team, as the process of solving problems and defining projects evolves, different people often take leadership.

9 - The optimism and conviction that the answer to most team challenges is right around the corner - getting around that corner requires looking at things differently.

There are few more powerful ways to leverage talent in any organization than through the use of teams. And yet, in many cases, teams don't meet expectations. In my experience, failure to value and build on differences is one of the main reasons for poor performance.

Take the internal and external dimension requirements from this article and see how team efforts in your organization can be improved. Maximize the unique value every person brings to the table.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

Leaders place a high value on being able to see things through different lenses. Successful problem solving teams and project teams value individual differences as the means of arriving at innovative ways to meeting their goals. The keys in valuing differences as key to team success involve two dimensions.

About the Author:
Andy Cox helps his clients select and develop teams and talent. He focuses on helping leaders and emerging leaders define and develop their skills and talents using goals. He can be reached at http://www.coxconsultgroup.com , or at acox@coxconsultgroup.com

Tags: business, individual differences, team success, teams, project teams, problem solving team

Please Rate this Article

Comments

Share This Article - Quick and Easy Using This Button:

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Business Articles Via RSS!

Read More Articles From - Home | Business

Being Energy Efficient With Certain Catering Equipment By: Anna Stenning - Most bars and restaurants will not know this but much of their catering equipment are not so very energy efficient. This is simply due to how much they need to be used in a busy catering environment. The kitchen is the busiest and most stressful area in any service industry, making it one of the most important places to keep maintained and up-to-date; but also making it one of the first places where energy usage is high. Whether it is a blender or a cooker, this equipment need to be used constantly.
Tags: business, catering equipment
Remember To Work Out The Cost Of Advertising By: James Copper - With the ongoing boom in the advertising industry the cost of advertising has gone up considerably. The big and rich companies pay large sums and then they take away the premium advertising slots on the TV as well as in the newspapers, etc. Due to the involvement of big companies the cost of advertising is going very high, and small and upcoming businesses are facing crunch situations. This has contributed to the big brands becoming even more famous and the small brands and local brands are unable to market them selves properly.
Tags: business, cost of advertising
How to Kick Recession Depression By: Denise Ryan - Okay, okay I finally have to admit it—the economy is kind of crappy right now. And it's scary (not that the media isn't fanning those flames just a bit). People are afraid they might lose their jobs, entrepreneurs are afraid they might lose their businesses, people are afraid they might lose their homes. So what to do? 1.) Tattoo the serenity prayer in a prominent place on your body. Refer to it often. Remind yourself that there's a lot you can't control and let it go. But there are some things you can control. Those are the things to work with. Example—
Tags: business, recession, deal with recession, deal with depression, denise ryan, firestar
Heaven Can Wait--But Your Business Strategy Can't By: Curtis Bingham - I recently noticed a flashing warning indicator on my car's instrument panel telling me that it was time service my brakes. I thought, "I'll call tomorrow when I have more time." Tomorrow turned into next month... and then the grinding started. When I finally got the brakes repaired, the repair bill was more than four times what it might have been had I heeded the warning light and not procrastinated. Business leaders often procrastinate establishing or updating their business strategy. Refining strategy is uncomfortable because you have to acknowledge the goals that weren't met, or the activities that slipped by the wayside.
Tags: business, business strategy, customer defection, competition
Free Business Advertising: Is It Any Good? By: James Copper - Many advertising companies offer free business advertising schemes. If you are a customer of the company for a long time, you can post free ads on their websites. Many companies provide these free advertisements as a part of their promotional offers. You can get free business advertisements on the internet or in the newspapers. Generally free business ads are not that effective and hence most of the people do not go for free advertising schemes. With advertising business growing leaps and bounds there are many options and types of advertisements that can suit your budget and needs.
Tags: business, business advertising
From You Flowers Coupon Codes Help Businesses Save Money on Gifts By: Abby Reid - Office birthdays, anniversaries and employee promotions can often leave co-workers clueless when it comes to gift-giving. It can be extremely difficult to find the right gifts for important employees, employers, clients and customers. Finding the right present for a friend or acquaintance can also be expensive and time-consuming. Luckily, corporate gift services like From You Flowers allow consumers to choose and design their own custom bouquets, gift baskets, cakes and candy platters. These services are also convenient because buyers can purchase their gifts online – without having to go anywhere or spend valuable time in a store.
Tags: business, hertz, office depot, 4imprint, ups shipping, kinko's discounts, cdw
Wholesale Video Games Online Business: 2009 Predictions! By: Joaquin Reveron - The first semester of 2008 the wholesale selling of wholesale video games and wholesale merchandise online felt the hit of a slower spending spree online. By the second semester of 2008 in particular, starting late August the turbulent drama of the economy in the US hit boiling time and consumer spending was much less online. However, as new election and as new changes start to arrive since November 4th there have been a steady increase in consumer spending as far online marketing sales go as gas prices help bring more confidence to the feared phenomena of what was a very slow economy.
Tags: business, wholesale video games, wholesale merchandise
Wholesale Video Games: Distributor Power Selling Insights! By: Joaquin Reveron - Knowing how to work with wholesale video games distributor is not an art, neither a secret. Knowing how to work with your partners, affiliated companies that bring in the money is nothing else than a science. Sciences as in do this, do this and do this in order to get a specific result. With a friend you do certain correct things to keep and maintain the relationship healthy in order for it to last for many years.
Tags: business, wholesale video games, video games distributor
The Network Marketer versus the Internet Marketer By: Robin Rushlo - The network marketer and internet marketer; aren't they the same thing? While the two terms may seem similar there are some very significant differences between the two. What is a network marketer? A network can be defined as any arrangement of elements that are interconnected. A network marketer( aka MLMer) puts together this network - in this case, distributors and customers - to move (sell) a product or service. These marketers are generally selling products or services that are offered by a separate company. It is a business of relationships. The product can be just about anything from coffee to information. Boresha Coffee, DrinkAct, Youngevity, etc.
Tags: business, coffee, boreha coffee, africa private estates, gourmet coffee, organic coffee, robin rushlo
Is January 1st the Best Time to Incorporate Your Small Business? By: Wayne M Davies - As a sole proprietor, have you considered incorporating your small business or self-employment activity? If so, maybe you've been wondering, "Does it matter what time of year I form a corporation?" From a legal standpoint, any time is the best time. The sooner you incorporate, the sooner you make the move from the world of unlimited liability to the world of limited liability. From a tax savings standpoint, any time is the best time. The sooner you incorporate, the sooner you will start putting more money in your own pocket and less in Uncle Sam's.
Tags: business, incorporate, incorporation, small business tax strategy, sole proprietorship