Embracing diversity will drive growth, but not necessarily agreement
In a world that is obsessed with one-sided diversity, a trait I’ve come to highly value from leaders is their ability to listen and consider a difference of ideas and opinions. Even more valuable is a humble, dissenting subordinate. At Amazon (Amazon Web Services (AWS)), they label this under their Leadership Principle (LP) “Have Backbone…disagree and commit.” While Amazonians aspire to own the 16 valued “LPs”, it is easy to let the less appealing or rewarding “LPs” fall by the wayside for the sake of personal comfort and preservation. The most interesting dynamic I’ve witnessed among some leaders is how quickly they are willing to second guess their team, yet how reluctant they are to question themselves. It’s as if the greater good should only be pursued if their own ego isn’t at stake. It’s situations like these that not only hamper an individual’s growth, but the morale of a team, and the makeup of a company at large.
While there is great value in acting on the best ideas, coming up with the right answers, and creating the best products and services, the best outcomes will generally stem from collaboration and team-oriented efforts. There is a proverb that says, “there is wisdom in the counsel of many.” As leaders, let’s always lift up our people and recognize the tremendous value each team member can bring. While words—even if genuine—can be effective in showing appreciation for someone’s unique ethos, it is by example that instills confidence in the people you invest in.
I’d like to politely challenge other business leaders in thought with this: if your team members were brought on each as unique and diverse individuals with strengths that you don’t necessarily possess, why not embrace the reasons you brought them on in the first place and hear them out?
While strong action is paramount to success, the “counsel of many” may find a better course to take that action.
Cornerstone Technologies | Cornerstone Technologies’ rich history of innovation has relied on two things: pride in our people, and a customer-obsessed mindset that leaves no stone unturned. Ever since becoming the go-to global backup partner for Visa in 2008, Cornerstone has been just that; our job is your vision, and we gather the right people with the best expertise to build exactly what you want. Whether it be hybrid cloud migrations, cybersecurity, managed services, or any engineering augmentation you may need, we aren’t defined by ‘one-size-fits-all,’ but rather the size of the solution that works for you. We lead with listening, and we back it up with our expertise over decades of refinement and leadership.