re-defining what team player means

If your team wants to leverage the benefits of diversity, you need to re-define what 'team player' means.

While in theory, a "team player" is someone who works well within a group, contributing to collective goals and collaborating effectively, in practice it often means:

🤝 Going along with the group
💬 Engaging in superficial positive talk
👩🏻‍💼Showing enthusiasm for the boss's opinions

To truly benefit from diversity on a team, we need to introduce a fresh perspective on what a team player is and see them as someone who doesn’t simply agree with the majority view, but adds valuable, unique perspectives.

It's the responsibility of leaders and teams together to create environments where this behavior is not only accepted but eagerly anticipated and welcomed.

How to encourage teams to expand to this understanding?

·       Introduce inclusive sharing of ideas eg. using brainwriting
·       Ensure psychological safety
·       Promote a culture of constructive feedback
·       Actively seek diverse perspectives
·       Acknowledge and reward unique contributions

It’s not about finding someone who will finish your sentences.

It’s about finding someone who will start conversations you’ve never thought you could have.

What are your thoughts?