So You Got Diversity

A lot of teams can do well without outside help. However one that comes to mind that likely needs a facilitator is a cross functional team. The reason why is everyone is coming with their own set of concerns. So goals will be conflicting. In college and high school there is competition among the coaches for funding for their particular sport. So when the coaches get together to decide how to split the money for athletics it is necessary to have the athletic director there otherwise it could get ugly. It is the same with different divisions within a business everyone wants to get their share of the pie and they want the piece of pie cut to the right size. Now human nature being what it is most will look at another person’s pie, or another groups, and think the other’s is way too large a slice. In situations like this an excellent facilitator is necessary.

Another good instance for a facilitator or mediator is when two companies are merging, especially if one bought the other out. There are likely to be feelings of resentment, desires to protect turf, and so on. This could mire all future meetings in disputes due to cultural and procedural clashes.

Properly managed the conflicts that arise out of a merger could be good. Why? It is brings diversity to the table. Diversity is an important part of teams because the effect generally is varying perceptions. Old things are looked at in a new way. However each side must be willing to listen and learn from the other side. If not then it will just digress into a blood feud.

In my next blog I will talk cover managing diversity and conflict in more detail.