Break Limits By Working With Those Different Than You

Dateline: May 15, 2016

Welcome to our Friday WRAP – one thought-provoking idea to think about over the weekend.

Fast Company recently published a through provoking reading titled, “Why It’s Better To Work With Someone Who Is Your Polar Opposite.”  The main idea is that in your work setting, working with those who are very different is healthy and productivity-enhancing.  Of course, you have to check your ego and be willing to perhaps sacrifice the comfort of having similar people around for the outcome of better work products.  Quoted in the article was Peter Arvai, the CEO of Prezi, the presentation software company, who, himself works with cofounders who have polar opposite personalities. His conclusion,

You can’t challenge yourself in the same way when you have other people reflecting back your personal biases, says Arvai [CEO of Prezi, the presentation software company]. “If you want an accelerated track for growth and self-improvement, surrounding yourself with people who have differences is key,” he says. “It doesn’t mean you have to accept everything the other person says, but it will help you learn if you can do a better job.”

When you look at your closest business partners/colleagues, are they all like you? or is there some major diversity?  How are you all similar? how are you different?

That’s a WRAP!  Have a great weekend.