#86: Perceptual errors at work - part 6

Balance in a team makes for a pleasant team experience. However, balance can make a team less effective, because effectiveness depends on exploring differing ideas.

Balance exists when people like each other and express similar views. Imbalance results when they like each other and disagree. Not being in balance is an unpleasant state and team members will want to restore balance.

How? Well, one person can convince the others to change their views. Or they could decide to dislike each other instead. Once they dislike each other, they become relatively indifferent as to whether they agree or disagree.

Why do we do this? We tend to like people who express similar attitudes and evaluations as we do because they provide ‘evidence’ that we are correct. And it feels nice to be correct. Obviously, if someone disagrees with us, it has the opposite effect.

The leadership trick is to get your people to disagree without becoming disagreeable.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

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