“If everybody is thinking alike…then somebody isn’t thinking.” – George S. Patton
The ability for people to collaborate and create as a group is one of the miracles of life, and also one of the most delicate balancing acts for the dynamics shift and change as people come in and out of groups, or grow into differing roles within the group.
How often have we experienced this first hand? When an amazing individual contibutor is thrust into a leadership position, for example…or when a new and unexpected team mate is added – there is a turbulent time and then either that person is incorporated into the group with whatever changes are made to accommodate him/her…or they fail.
That ebb and flow of acceptance, and evolution of the team occurs at the company level – as small companies try to make the shift to medium size or medium to large. Often they hit a barrier to expansion, and often they cannot understand what it is that is holding them back. That is where Management and Organizational Development (M&OD) Consultants and Coaches can really add value. Regardless of their methodology (which can span from individual psych tests to 360 evaluations to group coaching) they get to see the team from a nearly objective point of view.
The challenge is, as in quantum physics, that the observer can and does influence the course of the object or objects being observed. So choosing an M&OD should include looking for the traits that you hope to mirror in your team or business. If you think that the core problem is aggressive behavior and competition – be sure not to hire a consultant who demonstrates those traits. Common sense? Perhaps, but when you have had the opportunity to observe a lot of different company cultures, and team subcultures – you notice that “like draws like” and the natural inclination of a group is to want to homogenize into a recognizable “us”. This seems to me, to be why embracing change is so challenging for large groups. And why Consulting firms that specialize in Management and Organizational Development will find plenty to do in times like these.
