Jeff Seton’s recent Blog on the personality secrets of the American Idol judges was, once again, a good reminder of the importance of a balanced team. He points out that the addition of Kara DioGuardi rounded out the team to include someone who can focus on “operational” or technical aspects of the singer and the competition. He includes some Myers-Briggs information to assist the reader in seeing the new and, more balanced, approach.
Teams need balance. Your team and mine need people who represent different ideas, experience, temperaments and strengths.
Why?
Some reasons:
Balance brings diversity. Having people with differing strengths, backgrounds and ideas brings a natural diversity.
Diversity brings multiple opinions that enrich discussion if the leader is open and patient.
Multiple opinions and discussion lead to quality decisions. Too often leaders want quick decisions or don’t have the patience to allow good discussions that lead to quality decisions. Quality decisions come out of patience and a desire to hear all sides of the issue. Too often the size of the agenda or the meeting’s timeframe dictates the outcome rather than the strength of balanced discussion and quality decisions.
As you assemble your team or prepare meetings remember the importance of balance. Seek to hear from everyone’s perspective and drive hard for quality decisions over rapidly ticking off the agenda items.
Great thoughts! Thanks Wayne!
Posted by: Jenni Catron | March 30, 2009 at 07:59 AM
Excellent Wayne and there are parallels in the NCAA Tournament right now as well. The more balanced teams find more success. Thanks for posting.
Posted by: Curt Harding | March 30, 2009 at 10:04 AM