So the other day a project lead asked, “how does a new project team that has just been put together from different sources and backgrounds manage to get around their differences and work together to produce a functional solution quickly?” My response: “simple, they must all aspire to be the dumbest person in the room.” To do anything else leads to failure, whether its partial or complete, failure is the only possibility.
Why is this so? It’s simple human nature that we all think we’re the best at what we do. By thinking this way and not forcefully putting that thought pattern away when we’re working in a group we subconsciously attempt to impose that thought on others. The result is clashing opinions and thoughts hitting and tempers flaring. When we don’t suppress this part of our nature we end up attempting to be the “alpha” in the group. When someone is trying to prove they are the smartest in the group, they are dooming the group to failure in some way.
By suppressing this thought process and instead aspiring to be the dumbest one in the group, we avert the problems created by alpha’s competing amongst each other. The result is often far better than just simple cooperation. By aspiring to be the dumbest person we tend to show others more respect, ask more questions even when they are simple ones, and are usually more open to criticism and even enlightenment.
Great leaders become great leaders by aspiring to be the dumbest person in the room … they can’t all be wrong?
