We have socially preferred guidelines for teamwork, such as, ‘be nice, don’t be too direct, and ALWAYS let others share their ideas before you share yours.’ These suggestions are good, but if you follow them excessively, you may lose your individuality, and the quality of your contribution can suffer.
You don’t want your team to be just a bunch of people who all think, speak, and solve problems in the same way. According to research, diverse perspectives help teams become smarter and more creative. So, recognize, respect, and preserve the range of personalities your team members have including yourself. Don’t conform to collaborate. Instead, build healthy trusted relationships, and leverage diversity of thought to serve a shared team goal.
