Over the course of the last few years I have realized just how important it is to vary your team. Often we find ourselves seeking out duplicates of us; however, when we surround ourselves with people just like us, we lose so many opportunities and miss out on learning new things.
As speaker and author Bill Treasurer explains it, “It’s natural to gravitate toward, and develop bonds with, people who look like, talk like, and think like we do… It’s just plain easy to want to be around members of one’s own tribe.” It may be natural, yes, but as Treasurer goes on to say, “It’s also just plain dangerous.”
I daily rely on the unique talents my team members bring to the table, and I am thankful I chose to build a team made up of people who are all very different than me. While different personalities and preferences can lead to some interesting conflict, they also lead to different perspectives and outlooks, which is very valuable.
Each member of my team has a unique set of talents and strengths that allow us to be a highly effective team. We don’t always see eye to eye—conflict resolution is a skill we all have improved on over the years—but we have been able to accomplish some amazing things together.
4 Reasons to Vary Your Team
- Different people possess different skills: Find people who are skilled in areas where you are not. Be willing to admit that you don’t have a particular skill and find someone who does.
- Different people lead to different outlooks: Do not limit your scope of vision by only hiring and seeking those who think like you think. About two years ago I hired a young lady who was adamant that I start using some form of social media to increase my platform. She saw potential where I originally did not, but I am glad I decided to consider her idea!
- Different people have different strengths: In my most recent book, Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower, I encourage leaders to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Fill your team with people that complement you—people who are strong where you are weak.
- Different people lead to learning new things: Thanks to the prompting and patient teaching of some of my team members, in recent months I have become actively involved in using LinkedIn. I have learned to upload photos and videos, post quotes and status updates, and daily use this versatile social media platform to reach out to so many more people than I could have ever reached without it.
By choosing a diverse team, I have created a stronger team than if I’d chosen people “just like me.” My team members help fill in some of the holes where I am weak, and also help push me to learn a few new things. As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks!
I encourage you to take this into consideration as you pursue success personally, professionally, and organizationally. Take a chance and surround yourself with those who are different from you. It’s worth it!
