#181: The shared dilemma
Charles Darwin wrote that when they reached the islands around Cape Horn, the local people ignored his ship. Why? Because as a group they believed that something that big could not float, therefore it did not exist.
This illustrates a dilemma that all team leaders face. If your team members share a common perception of reality, then they will communicate easier. However, this increases the risk that, as a group, they will make the same perceptual errors.
In other words, if we see the same things out there, then we might find it easier to understand one another. But at the same time, we are likely to ignore the same threats and miss the same opportunities.
How do you solve this dilemma? Encourage diversity.
Diversity at work may be uncomfortable, but it helps you to spot more opportunities, to uncover more threats and to see your ship when it comes in.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
This illustrates a dilemma that all team leaders face. If your team members share a common perception of reality, then they will communicate easier. However, this increases the risk that, as a group, they will make the same perceptual errors.
In other words, if we see the same things out there, then we might find it easier to understand one another. But at the same time, we are likely to ignore the same threats and miss the same opportunities.
How do you solve this dilemma? Encourage diversity.
Diversity at work may be uncomfortable, but it helps you to spot more opportunities, to uncover more threats and to see your ship when it comes in.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
7:06 PM
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