Valuing Introversion on Teams

If a third to half of the US population is introverted and we need to come together to innovate and solve problems, it behooves us to better understand the value of introversion.

In Susan Cain’s Ted Talk http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/ she states that the US culture tends to value “action over contemplation.” She also distinguishes between shyness and introversion.

“Shyness is fear of social judgment. Introversion is more about how we respond to stimulation. Introverts tend to feel the most alive when they are in quieter, solitude environments.”

A colleague of mine described it like this, “When someone asks you a question, the whiteboard of your mind starts filling in the blanks. You become energized. When someone asks me a question, my whiteboard is blank. So I panic if there is pressure to answer immediately. It takes me a while to collect my thoughts.”

If you want to maximize the talent on your team, find the right “zone of stimulation” that is right for each team member. Ms. Cain’s suggests the following ways to honor the value of introversion:

• Stop the madness for constant group work. Provide time, space, privacy and autonomy for people to work alone.
• Go to the wilderness. Unplug and get inside your own head and heart and reconnect to natural rhythms.
• Stop faking it. Acknowledge and claim the strengths of introversion in yourself and others.

Reflection, Contemplation and Leadership?

Thanks to whoever sent me the book "Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin Sharma.

The first insight I appreciated (other than the fun title) was, "Reflection and contemplation are among the most important of all business skills." 

We don't often think of these leadership competencies as a part of business (or busy-ness) and yet what if they were?

Imagine an office where people (regardless of title) allowed time and space for the wisest part of them to lead by:

• Staring out the window 
• Pausing and regrouping between meetings
• Sitting with their legs up on a desk pondering
• Attending to energetic and emotional shifts (in self and others)
• Being outside for breaks or lunch
• Listening beneath words
• Walking mindfully
• Asking, "Is it my assignment?"
• Responding to biorhythms
• Breathing more deeply
• Aligning with seasonal cycles
• Allowing silence to reveal 
• Meditating
• Appreciating calm and quiet

What difference would these practices make to leadership, team and organizational health? Try a few (or make up your own) and see for yourself.

For more explore www.robinsharma.com/resources. And....for those of you who devalue your expertise, Mr. Sharma also has a great story about Pablo Picasso. He drew a little sketch for an admirer later in his career and then asked for $1 million dollars. The lady replied, $1million dollars for 30 seconds?"He said, "My dear, it took me 30 years to draw that in 30 seconds."

Carrots, Sticks and Peas

A recent Harvard Business Review article illuminated three ways to motivate change. http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2009/06/the-best-way-to-change-a-corpo.html 

The experiment was to get kids to eat peas. They tried reward (if you eat your peas you can have ice cream). They tried punishment (if you don’t eat your peas you can’t use your iPad). What worked best was vision, community and camaraderie (all the kids are eating peas, join the fun!)

The carrot and stick approach (while still popular) may work temporarily but it depends on fear, control, force, guilt, lack and an external authority to work. It ultimately thwarts optimal performance and isn't sustainable!

Inspiring change and igniting human potential is more like an invitation than a command. It is about enabling conscious choice and bringing out the best in each other. Vision motivates. Accountability empowers. Camaraderie laughs. Alignment calms. Purpose energizes. Trust cultivates. Conflict illuminates.

What carrots or sticks are no longer working on your team? Where can you apply the peas solution? 

Thanks Lyndee for the resource!

Quotes to Ponder

I'm sharing some quotes that struck a chord with me this week...How do they resonate with you?

"There is no such thing as a wrong note," said jazz pianist Art Tatum. "It all depends on how you resolve it." Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis had a similar philosophy. "It's not the note you play that's the wrong note," he said. "It's the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong."

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity said, "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.  And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

"The meaning of life is not a fact to be discovered, but a choice that you make about the way you live." --Hilda Berstein, South African activist

"Conversation is the vehicle for change. We test our ideas. We hear our own voice in concert with another." --Terry Tempest Williams

"Champions keep playing until they get it right." --Billie Jean King

Problem, Dilemma or Mystery?

We've learned it's important to distinguish between a problem and a dilemma.

A problem has a beginning and end, invites many possible solutions and can be resolved. Those with the problem often have the answer. A dilemma is an ongoing paradox that needs a strategy. It acknowledges a polar tension between two opposing yet important criteria. Those with dilemmas need to align around ways to meet dual, never-ending needs such as improve quality/reduce cost, enhance safety/maximize speed or increase productivity/minimize stress.

However, what about mystery? In reading The Boss column from The NY Times Business Section, the Executive Director of WhyHunger shares a learning from the teachings of Gabriel Marcel, a French Philosopher. "There are problems and there is mystery. You can get your head around a problem eventually but you can't control a mystery. You can only live it."

Consider your current challenges. Which ones are problems to solve, dilemmas to strategize or mysteries to experience?

Teamwork is a Strategic Decision!

Patrick Lencioni has shifted from talking about team dysfunction to the strategic advantage of team work. This approach is more inviting and the strength of his position is one I share. He states, "Team work is not a virtue it is a choice. It is a strategic decision not a default."

Like anything of value, teaming takes work and (dare I say it) sacrifice. In sports it's a given. Millions of dollars are invested in cutting edge strategy, nutrition, exercise, assessment, psychology, coaching, recruiting, medicine and daily practice. In business we still throw groups of people together and say, "go win the game" neglecting to provide the vision, support, training and scoreboard necessary to sustain high performance. Why?

Do we really believe a team is greater than the sum of its parts? Are we overwhelmed by all the books on the topic? Are we tired of team building that generates smiles but not numbers? Do we expect to win without practice? Are we demotivated by outdated performance management systems? Do we believe collaboration takes more time? Do we expect our leaders to drive performance? Are we reliant on fear-based strategies that seem to work? Do we want ease at the expense of results?  Have we lost a common cause? Are we hypnotized by our never-ending to do list?

If you want the benefits of stellar team performance (innovation, higher profit margins, better customer loyalty, lower health care costs, happier employees) what are you willing to invest? How much time, energy, attention and money are you willing to give to cultivate it? Lencioni asserts "teamwork is the last competitive advantage in business." What do you think?

Here is a 1 minute video http://www.tablegroup.com/pat/?tab=pov (click on "Pat on Teamwork") to ponder.

Our Strategic Team Alignment Programs explore team myths, measure success and provide a roadmap to accelerate synergy. Yes it is possible!

Vulnerability Weakness or Strength?

If you believe vulnerability is a weakness (many do), think again. Brene Brown, has been researching vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame for over 10 years. She's found that vulnerability is actually a measurement of courage. 

Vulnerability is being responsive, open, authentic and connected to our humanity. It is not a popular word in business. However, if vulnerability is "the birthplace of creativity, innovation and change" isn't it worth exploring?

To what degree do you:

• Show up the same at work and at home
• Believe you are good enough
• Go for progress (instead of perfection)
• Celebrate your imperfections
• Converse without technology between you
• Ask for help
• Laugh at your foibles
• Tell the truth
• Look people in the eye
• Witness discomfort (instead of numbing)
• Take risks 
• Learn from failures (instead of burying mistakes) 
• Step out (instead of hiding)
• Apologize
• Forgive 
• Embrace uncertainty
• Allow yourself to be seen
• Notice how the universe supports and inspires you
• Spread kindness

Brown believes shame is one reason we fear vulnerability. Shame distorts the very connection and power we already have. In her Ted Talks (see below for links) she differentiates between shame and guilt. Shame = I am bad. Guilt = I did something bad. Shame is highly correlated to addiction, depression, violence, aggression, eating disorders and bullying. 

What if shame is a lie and vulnerability is a good thing for your career? your leadership? your team?

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html 

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html