I recently completed a consulting project for a global hotel chain where about 15 different consultants were brought together to solve a problem inadvertently affecting the bottom line. Each of us came with varied backgrounds and consulting experiences. The most amazing part of the project, in addition to anticipated affects on long-term profitability, was how our different backgrounds fostered an incredible think tank of solutions and ideas. The expertise that a diverse team contributes is infinite.
In my last newsletter I mentioned some aspects of what teams need in order to succeed (see archives gloating…). We were an informal group, brought together around a unifying personal goal of offering independent consulting services, but there was nothing ‘independent’ about the outcome. In a challenging economy, entrepreneurs fill a void in a way large companies can not. With a group of independent consultants you are guaranteed an innovative and creative approach, instead of a system-wide standard approach. External consultants provide an objective analysis and a fresh look. We’re all entrepreneurs, all motivated, and all eager to connect with one another and value each others different backgrounds and ideas.
In the recent Business Week article Want to Boost the Economy?, James Turley of Ernst & Young says “better ideas come from groups that tackle problems and challenges from diverse points of view.”
If you’re thinking of bringing together a great team, that will really make things happen for your company, consider diversity of talent, ideas, backgrounds, and personality. Be sure you’re asking the right questions and making the right choices. When you’re fighting the ‘war on talent,’ you want to be certain that you’re fighting for the right reasons. And of course, the common goal and mission should be the linchpin in a team that offers value and true business results.
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Tags: approach, asking the right questions, business, business week article, consulting, consulting project, economy, Ernst, external consultants, goal, group, hotel, independent consultants, independent consulting services, informal group, James Turley, project, right choices, talent, team, term profitability