Bring the BEST in everyone, including the introverts in your team !

Team Management 
November 17, 2014

Bring the BEST in everyone, including the introverts in your team ! 

Team leaders often don't fully tap into the knowledge team members bring with them. This is, in large part, because the most confident, outgoing people get the most airtime, while the real experts take a backseat and have limited impact ! 

But a brief intervention can change this dynamic ! 
When starting on a new project, encourage team members to first discuss the relevant knowledge they each bring to the table. By opening the floor for reflection, you can lead the group in assessing members' knowledge and discussing its relevance to the task at hand.
 And your team will be less likely to defer to those with the most confidence, and more likely to combine their expertise to devise strategies for solving the problems. 
The process may sound simple, but it can help you bring out the best in your team. 

Adapted from “ Bring Out the Best in Your Team” by Bryan L. Bonner and Alexander R. Bolinger.