Great Teams Obtain Synergy from Their Diversity

To get teams to perform well requires leadership to obtain synergy from the members’ diversity, so they work together to achieve “collective competence” as a team.  Consider football teams.   A football team needs people whose physical nature and psychology make them excellent offensive linemen.  It also needs some people whose bodies and mental chemistry make them good defensive linemen.  Teams need quarterbacks that are good at throwing, and tight ends and wide receivers whose bodies have longer limbs and arms that are great for running swiftly and catching things coming at them from various angles. Football teams also need running backs who bodies are powerful and agile to dart in and out of tight spots to outmaneuver others. There are other smaller, skinny people on football teams who are good at kicking.  Without this diversity, a football team cannot be successful. 

The challenge for a team getting synergy from its diversity is that each of the different players approaches the mission from varying psychological viewpoints.  An offensive lineman is wired to protect. The running back is wired to avoid others and run over those who can’t be avoided. The mind-set of a defensive lineman is to catch and tackle others aggressively. The mental focus of a quarterback is to hang tough and do whatever it takes to deliver the ball to another player.  A kicker is focused on accurately placing the ball onto various sections of the field or through the goal posts.  

A leader must understand the gifts, perspectives and roles individuals can contribute, and must motivate and inspire them to participate as effective team members. to achieve the mission that matters most. Are you the type of leader who can coach your team’s diverse perspectives and viewpoints so they achieve cooperative synergy to win for the organization?