Developing Teams
The phases of team development are commonly referred to as Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing.
Your team members may have specialist experience in a particular function but they will also bring to the team their own style of working and problem solving. Try to understand individual approaches so you can make best use of the mix you have available.
Left and Right Brain Thinkers
The two sides of the brain function differently in terms of how they process information. Left brain skills help people to function well in high tech environments, as they are adapted to analysing things and introducing logic to a problem or challenge. Right brain thinking is more holistic and intuitive. Left brain thinkers respond well to verbal messages and find it easy to describe and define things whereas right brain thinkers respond better to nonverbal imagery. Whilst left brain thinkers respond well to the meaning and context of words, right brain thinkers are more likely to respond to the actual phrasing and tone of sentences. In effect, skills develop within the left brain and values within the right.
Adaptors and Innovators
Professor Michael Kirton, in his Adaptation/Innovation theory, suggests that there is a spectrum of creative style - illustrating the different ways in which individuals approach bringing about change or problem-solving. Adaptors are at one end and Innovators are at the other. Adaptors prefer 'to make improvements in existing ways of doing things' and Innovators prefer 'to do things differently'.
Among many other characteristics, the Adaptor is likely to:
Prefer improvement of existing structures over mould-breaking change
Be methodical and prudent
Put a high value on being efficient within a system
Be interested in solving problems rather than looking for them
Whereas the Innovator, unsurprisingly given that they rest at the other side of the spectrum, is likely to:
Prefer mould-breaking change over improvement of existing structures
Be seen as undisciplined and reckless
Put greater value on thinking up new skills than on implementing them
Enjoy seeking out problems
Adaptors approach problem-solving from the inside, and Innovators from the outside, in relation to the status quo.
Insiders and Outsiders
Insiders in this instance are those members of the team who come from within the environment or organisation the team is concentrating on. Outsiders are external to the organisation or at least that part of it. Insiders will understand the status quo thoroughly but can often be too close to the issue in hand to effect major change. Outsiders introduce an element of objectivity and are more ready to question assumptions.
