Okay, not rivals, but...
Ains and I used to assess organizational teams using Myers Briggs and found that most of them tend to hire similar personality types. They call it "chemistry" or "working with friends" but really it's just multiplying their weaknesses.
Finding the best person gives way to finding the most comfortable person. Someone who laughs at our jokes or spends their free time in the exact same way. Someone we don't find awkward.
But a great team knows how to achieve a vision while appreciating each other's quirks and differences.
Steve Jobs said this about the Beatles:
"They kept each other from going off in the directions of their bad tendencies. They sort of kept each other in check.... And so John kept Paul from being a teeny-bopper and Paul kept John from drifting out into the cosmos, and it was magic. And George, in the end, I think provided a tremendous amount of soul to the group. I don't know what Ringo did."
The very person who can do what we cannot do is wired to approach life in a very different way than us. So it won't feel like we're "working with best-buds." In fact, it'll be awkward at times. But we'll be better for it. We'll have a better team.
"I don't know what Ringo did."
Once again, the drummer gets no respect.
Posted by: Jaycaruso | April 30, 2012 at 08:41 AM
This is great stuff, Ben. I've definitely noticed that the people I've worked alongside who share the same vision (which is equally important), but are wired differently than I have shaped me the most in the way I work.
And if there were just a bunch of us ESFP's working alongside each other, we might find ourselves guilty of sitting around and talking too much.
Posted by: Jeremy_chandler | April 30, 2012 at 08:50 AM
I'm an ENTJ and my wife is an INTJ. Opposites strengthen the team.
Posted by: Jim Gray | April 30, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Ben,
This is so good and reassuring! I'm so grateful for my amazing team of volunteer leaders. Many times I'm awed by the fact that we would not have been friends in high school -- SO DIFFERENT -- yet, we function so well together in life & ministry.
Auto & chemical engineers, Special needs school teacher, Starbucks baristas, Traveling salesman, school janitors, audio engineer, etc, etc, etc. -- LOVE THEM ALL!
Posted by: Chilly | April 30, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Spot on my friend. Btw: I'm an INFJ.
Posted by: ted | April 30, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Oops...I meant ENFJ. ;-)
Posted by: ted | May 01, 2012 at 04:24 AM
i have no doubt that this blog is mostly read by iNtuitives =)
Posted by: Ben Arment | May 01, 2012 at 09:44 AM
This is why I love and appreciate my husband. He is not like me. While we make each other crazy with our personality differences, we keep one another grounded and remind the other of our strengths and weaknesses. Makes us a killer team! =)
Posted by: Carrie Starr | May 01, 2012 at 10:09 AM
I love that " ...just multiplying their weaknesses" . Yes!
Posted by: Ken | May 05, 2012 at 08:17 AM