Leadership Lessons from an Unexpected Group Exam Experience

If you’ve been through the Singapore school system, you would have encountered various types of exams—written exams, open-ended questions, multiple-choice tests, oral exams, and even physical tests. But a group exam? That’s something I’ve only experienced once.

During my INSEAD MBA, I encountered this unique challenge. It was for a course on Organizational Behaviour, and our team—a diverse group with members from different corners of the globe—had been together for four months. We had an American, a Brazilian, a French, a German, a Hong Konger, and myself, a Singaporean. I was the designated leader, and we were given a case study of a company undergoing transformation. Our task was to act as 'consultants,' assess the situation, and make recommendations—all within three hours. What better way to learn about organizational behaviour than by putting us through an exercise that tested our own team’s organizational dynamics?

As the leader, I had some fears going into the exam. A few scenarios could easily go awry. First, there was the risk of running out of time if we didn’t plan and monitor our schedule well. Or perhaps we wouldn’t be able to agree on a particular set of recommendations. My biggest fear was that a hostile conflict could occur, and as the leader, I might not be able to manage these dynamics effectively, leading the team to underperform. But we had been together for some time. I had to trust the process, believe that the group had gelled, and that we had built the right camaraderie. Could we pull this off?

In Joseph Ravenell's TED Talk, "How barbershops can keep men healthy," Dr. Ravenell highlighted how barbershops serve as more than just places for haircuts; they are spaces for friendship, solidarity, and open conversations, particularly among Black men. He shared his childhood memories of visiting the barbershop with his father and how these spaces were filled with diverse discussions, including health-related topics. Dr. Ravenell emphasized that barbers can act as trusted community leaders and advocates, often playing a crucial role in promoting health and health equity. For instance, Denny Moe, the owner of Denny Moe's Superstar Barbershop in Harlem, goes beyond cutting hair by offering health screenings and interventions.

We sometimes find the people who will walk with us through life in the most unexpected places. The barbershop is a great metaphor where we can learn and hone our skills with kindred spirits in a safe environment. Just like barbershops can be a safe haven for open conversations, our group became a place for us to share ideas, challenge each other, and grow together. Looking back, my barbershop was that four months with that group because I had many chances to experiment with different leadership concepts, putting classroom theory into practice.

Back to the group exam—we started strong, each bringing unique perspectives to the table. But soon, the very diversity that enriched our team became the source of tension. About an hour into the session, one of our team members, frustrated with what she perceived as a bossy attitude from another, stood up abruptly. She announced that she could not work with that person and was ready to walk away. Silence filled the room as everyone turned to me, the leader, to resolve the situation.

In that moment, I decided to take a different approach. I asked the first team member to help me run an errand, allowing her to step away from the situation. Then, I privately spoke to the other team member, encouraging them to focus on the task at hand. I suggested we come back at the end of the second hour to revisit the thorny issue. By the time the second hour arrived, everyone was scrambling to finish their parts. When I proposed a particular pathway to move forward, nobody objected—we were all too focused on completing the assignment. We just managed to finish the task in time, while many other groups failed to submit a complete assessment. To our surprise and delight, we ended up topping the class!

As a leader, I’m constantly on the lookout for trusted companions in trusted spaces, where we can sharpen each other’s strengths and weaknesses, just as iron sharpens iron. So, here’s my question for you: Where is your “barbershop”? Have you found a trusted space where you and your team can grow together, exchange ideas freely, and refine your leadership skills in an environment of mutual support and collaboration? Together, we can achieve far more than we could alone, especially if we foster those relationships.