Why Diverse Teams are Smarter, but Don't Feel That Way
Mar 4, 2021
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Exploring the advantages of diverse teams, the podcast discusses enhanced logical thinking, creativity, and error detection. It emphasizes the significance of constructing diverse teams for improved work performance. The speakers highlight the importance of diversity, addressing the unique skill set of neurodiverse individuals and the social justice element. They explore measuring inclusion through networks and behaviors, as well as the importance of prioritizing social and racial justice in organizations. The podcast concludes with a discussion on valuing human beings and the challenges faced in the past year, such as DEI and mental health.
Diverse teams engage in cognitive elaboration, leading to more ideas, better work product, and improved performance.
Diverse teams foster inclusion, belongingness, and a comprehensive, innovative mindset, outperforming homogeneous teams in problem-solving and creativity.
Deep dives
Diverse teams are smarter due to cognitive elaboration
Diverse teams are proven to be more logical, creative, and better at identifying errors. This is because they engage in cognitive elaboration, which involves thinking deeply about beliefs, interrogating conclusions, and considering counterfactuals. Diverse teams generate more ideas and have a better work product. It is crucial to build diverse teams to achieve better performance.
Benefits of diversity include inclusion and unique perspectives
In addition to cognitive benefits, diverse teams also foster a sense of inclusion and belongingness. Each individual brings unique perspectives and contributions, leading to a more comprehensive and innovative mindset. Diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams in problem-solving, creativity, and finding errors. It is essential to create an inclusive culture that values voice and turn-taking to reap the full benefits of diversity.
The discomfort and tension in diverse teams
Homogeneous teams feel smoother and are often preferred because of the comfort it brings. However, this comfort limits cognitive elaboration. The perceived discomfort in diverse teams is often greater than the reality. Tension arises from hesitancy, concern about offending others, and the challenge of perspective taking. Recognizing that homogeneous teams feel comfortable helps to understand the need for diverse teams and the value of cognitive elaboration.
Balancing diversity, inclusion, and company culture
Creating diverse teams should not be seen as a threat to company culture. It is important to shift the perspective from culture fit to culture ad, considering what perspectives and viewpoints need to be added for maximum contribution. Measuring inclusion can be done through surveys, but it is also crucial to assess behaviors and network connections to identify true inclusion and understand the impact on diversity and performance.
Decades of research have made it clear that diverse teams are smarter and more innovative than homogeneous teams. But there are a few stubborn cognitive quirks that get in the way of building and fostering diversity in organizations. In this episode of Your Brain at Work, NLI CEO Dr. David Rock is joined by Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, Dr. Valerie Purdie-Greenaway, and NLI Senior Consultant Dr. Paulette Gerkovich to discuss the compelling, and science-backed, business case for diversity, how to build diversity in teams, and why despite feeling less comfortable, diverse teams perform better.
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