We're on the same team, but we disagree sometimes. And it's great.

What is Teamwork?  

We are on the same side, but that doesn’t mean that we all agree. We want there to be some friction among us. Who else will tell you like it really is other than someone you trust and work with every day? There is a difference between being difficult for the sake of being difficult and presenting a different perspective in an altruistic way.  

Being difficult for the sake of being difficult usually comes from an individual who thinks they are the smartest in the room. These are the individuals who want their ideas to be the winners and are blinded by singular direction, rather than working for the common good. We encourage someone who is willing to defend their line of thought, but only if they can see all the different perspectives with a balanced mind, fully consider the differences, and be willing to adapt, if even slightly. The worst thing a team member can do is dismiss a different opinion or idea without giving it serious thought.  

Autocratic leaders who come to mind who have been known to be at times dismissive of their employees are Elon Musk and Steve Jobs. Most of us have heard of them because they forced change in their own way and built a reputation that does not meet the conventional friendly teamwork model. It is our understanding that they know the importance of challenging ideas, but also of compromising when something truly brilliant is presented to them. That is why they have tens of thousands of employees and the companies they helped create are some of the best and biggest in the world. If we stop and look at the individual team members who might try to present their ideas to an extreme leader, we realize challenges they might face in speaking up. Are they able to challenge ideas and methods without fear of repercussion? Most likely not completely, but these top leaders hire the best of the best and pay them accordingly to say what needs to be done and to accept approval or rejection regardless of fear or ego. This forces the best ideas to be presented and the most audacious goals reached.  

Of course, there are leaders who are willing to listen and play along, but we also know sometimes team members are the ones who are inflexible or can’t accept rejection, which are the stories we hear of in the news. It’s these individuals who believe they are the smartest in the room that cannot make it in an environment with people like Elon or Steve. If you are truly working with an altruistic mindset, when you are shot down, you know that your words were heard and were rejected. Move on and do not dwell on how that rejection was presented back to you; remember that you are working with the most extreme example of teamwork. 

We can idealize gratitude from others and make our own expectations for what this means, but everyone shows it their own way. It’s necessary to have buy-in and honesty within the team so there is room for conversation and disagreement without personal ego getting in the way. In these extreme cases, we can’t let our own feelings get in the way of a once in a lifetime innovator and the chance to be a part of the ride.  

Working for one of these megalithic companies and leaders comes with certain advantages and disadvantages - huge pay that most of us could only dream of and being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and innovation. The flip side is monstrous hours, wild expectations, and perhaps not the greatest gratitude for brilliant ideas. However, this is just one example of teamwork; where you find your own ideal balance is dependent on your values and if they line up with the rest of the team’s.  

Know yourself and seek a team that can meet you at least halfway. Be flexible as it is so rare to be on a team and have everything your way. The opposite option to the extreme team leaders can have just as many problems when everyone agrees to jump off a bridge because no one sounded the alarm. Don’t forget that it’s a journey, these challenges are what we live for and where growth can flourish. Immerse yourself even if uncomfortable because we only get so many chances before the journey comes to an end.  

In the next blog post, we will focus on policies that AIR Consulting implemented with the team to present disagreements and critiques with each other. These policies are flexible and not meant to be applicable for all organizations as culture changes between geographical locations and industries.  

Please leave us a comment if you have any stories or opinions on this topic and how you handle it at your organization.  

Thank you for your time and wishing you an amazing journey that includes disagreements.  

Sincerely The AIR Consulting Team