What makes a team truly great?
Whether you're building a startup, playing sports or leading a corporate powerhouse, one question always stands out: What’s the right mix of people for your team? Is it better to focus on peerness, bringing together like-minded individuals who align easily, or does diversity, with its wealth of perspectives, lead to greater success? Both approaches have their merits—and challenges—but finding the balance between them could unlock your team’s true potential.
In these two blogs, we dive deep into the science and strategies behind team composition. The first explores the debate between peerness and diversity, offering actionable insights grounded in research and real-world examples. The second takes it a step further with the Focus-Align-Act framework, showing you how to balance these seemingly opposite approaches to build a high-performing, innovative team. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a team that thrives, this is the wisdom you’ve been waiting for!
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In this week's Paper Napkin Wisdom Weekly:
- Paper Napkin Wisdom Preview
- Team Composition: Peerness or Diversity?
- How to Support Team Balance
- Week in Review
- Personal Dashboard Update
Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast Preview
This is the only place where we give you a sneak peek into what's coming up on Paper Napkin Wisdom. Remember to share this with anyone who needs to hear these messages.
Episode 212: Boaz Ashkenazy, founder and CEO of Simply Augmented, a cutting edge AI company. He brings groundbreaking insights on leveraging design thinking to drive innovation and transform challenges into opportunities.
Episode 213: Michelle Songy, founder and of Press Hook, a media relations platform that connects brands, media, publicists and journalists. She shares invaluable expertise on entrepreneurial resilience and building impactful businesses, drawing from her success as the founder of a global tech platform.
Episode 214: Christopher Robbins, serial entrepreneur and founder of SoulDegree, is a passionate advocate for personal transformation, blending his experience as an entrepreneur and adventurer to help others reconnect with their purpose. Through his retreats and coaching, he inspires leaders to embrace vulnerability and create meaningful change in their lives.
Episode 215: Lori Haller, founder of DesignResponse, an award-winning creative strategist and direct response design expert, has spent decades crafting campaigns that drive results for global brands and entrepreneurs alike. Her expertise in blending artistry with strategy makes her insights invaluable for anyone looking to elevate their business and messaging.
Episode 216: Max Zaharenkov, a dynamic entrepreneur and digital powerhouse with an audience of over 3.9 million followers on Instagram. Max has built an impressive reputation by transforming bold ideas into thriving ventures. Max dives into his journey, sharing insights on resilience, leadership, and what it takes to build a digital empire.
Episode 217: Robin Phillips, the inspiring founder of Child Care Aware® of Missouri. With a passion for empowering families and strengthening communities, Robin has been a driving force to create meaningful, systemic change. Robin shares her journey as a leader in advocacy and education, offering insights on resilience, innovation, and building a brighter future for children.
Stay connected with Paper Napkin Wisdom on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify to be the first to hear these incredible episodes!
Team Composition: Peerness or Diversity?
Building a high-performing team is one of the most critical challenges for leaders in business, sports, and even volunteer organizations. The question often arises: should you prioritize peerness—a group of like-minded individuals with similar experiences and approaches—or diversity, which brings together varied perspectives and backgrounds? Neuroscience and research offer valuable insights into both strategies, but the best solution might be a balance of the two.
What Is Peerness, and Why Does It Work?
Peerness refers to assembling a group of people with similar expertise, backgrounds, or shared life experiences. These individuals often see the world through a similar lens, leading to smoother communication, quicker decision-making, and reduced friction.
Research backs up the advantages of peerness. A 2020 study by Stanford University found that teams with shared cognitive frameworks (a hallmark of peerness) were better at solving complex problems quickly. The absence of significant interpersonal friction allows teams to align easily on goals and collaborate with a high degree of efficiency.
From a neuroscience perspective, this dynamic can be explained by mirror neurons, which are activated when we interact with people who behave or think like us. These neurons help us empathize and connect, fostering trust and collaboration.
However, the risk of peerness lies in groupthink. Without contrasting perspectives, teams can become blind to alternative solutions or miss critical opportunities for innovation.
Why Diversity Is Essential
Diversity, on the other hand, refers to assembling a team with varied experiences, cultural backgrounds, and ways of thinking. This approach is often praised for its ability to drive innovation and problem-solving.
The famous research from Scott Page, a professor at the University of Michigan, revealed that diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones in solving complex problems. This is because members bring cognitive diversity—different ways of interpreting and addressing challenges—which fosters creativity and innovation.
From a neuroscience perspective, diversity also stimulates brain plasticity. Exposure to new ideas and perspectives challenges our preconceptions, encouraging the brain to form new connections. But this comes with a caveat: the friction that diversity creates can lead to conflict and slower decision-making if not managed well.
The Third Option: A Balance of Peerness and Diversity
Is there a way to combine the best of both worlds? The answer lies in building a diverse team while ensuring shared connection points—a sense of peerness in at least one area. When people can “see themselves” in someone else on the team, they are more likely to approach differences constructively rather than defensively.
For instance, you might build a team that is diverse in cultural or professional backgrounds but shares a common purpose, such as a strong commitment to the company’s mission or core values. This shared foundation fosters trust while leveraging the benefits of cognitive diversity.
Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that creating psychological safety—an environment where team members feel seen and heard—can help diverse teams thrive. When individuals know they are respected, they’re more willing to engage in open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, even in the face of conflicting viewpoints.
Moving Forward
The debate between peerness and diversity doesn’t need to have a winner. Instead, leaders should focus on creating purpose-driven diversity: teams where individuals bring a variety of perspectives but are united by common ground. When people feel a sense of belonging and shared understanding, they can navigate the challenges of diversity with empathy and resolve.
As you consider your next team composition, ask yourself: Have I created enough diversity to foster innovation, but enough connection to maintain trust and collaboration?
Small shifts in your team-building approach could lead to transformative results. Share your ideas on a paper napkin, and tag us with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Balancing Teams: A Focus-Align-Act Approach
Creating a team that balances peerness (shared values and perspectives) with diversity (varied experiences and skills) can seem like walking a tightrope. But with the Focus-Align-Act framework from Paper Napkin Wisdom, you can build a team that fosters collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Let’s dive into how this model can guide you step by step.
Focus: Clarify What Your Team Needs
The first step is identifying what your team needs to accomplish and what strengths are required to do so effectively. Think about the following questions:
- What is the team’s purpose? Clearly articulate the mission and values that will guide your team. These become the foundation for peerness.
- What skills and perspectives are missing? Identify gaps that could be filled by diverse perspectives. Diversity here isn’t limited to demographics—it includes cognitive diversity, professional experience, and problem-solving styles.
For example, in episode 189 of Paper Napkin Wisdom featuring Natalia Matveeva, an e-learning innovator, she discusses how a team with shared values but diverse skill sets transformed the gaming landscape. Her insights emphasize the power of combining a unified purpose with varied approaches to execution and buliding alignment. Listen here.
Align: Create a Common Ground
Alignment is about ensuring your team shares a common purpose while celebrating diverse contributions. This is where you balance the strengths of peerness and diversity.
- Define shared goals and values. Use team workshops or meetings to align everyone around a mission statement. For example, using tools like the CliftonStrengths assessment can help team members understand their unique contributions while identifying shared priorities.
- Build psychological safety. As highlighted in episode 20 with Allie Mooney, fostering an environment where people feel safe to share ideas without fear of judgment can bridge the gap between diverse opinions and it's possible to be happily incompatible with people. Check out the episode.
One practical step is using icebreaker activities to identify commonalities among team members. For example, each person can share their "why" for joining the team. This creates a sense of shared humanity while appreciating individual differences.
Act: Implement Systems to Sustain Balance
Execution is where theory meets practice. Here are some actionable steps:
- Design inclusive decision-making processes. Create forums where everyone’s input is valued. Tools like Miro or Notion can help capture and organize diverse perspectives while keeping the team focused on shared goals.
- Encourage peer mentorship. Pair team members who have different strengths but similar values. For instance, an experienced marketer could mentor a data scientist on storytelling, while learning about analytics in return.
- Celebrate progress together. Acknowledge and reward both individual contributions and collective achievements. This reinforces both peerness and diversity.
In episode 105 of Paper Napkin Wisdom featuring Adam Robinson, he shares how creating spaces for authentic connection allowed his teams to leverage diversity without losing cohesion. Listen here.
Tools to Get Started
To balance peerness and diversity, here are some practical resources:
- Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast Episodes: Learn directly from leaders who have navigated this balance.
- CliftonStrengths or DISC Assessments: Understand and celebrate team dynamics.
- Miro/Notion Boards: Organize thoughts and ideas collaboratively.
- Regular Team Check-Ins: Use structured reflections to align on progress and address tension points.
Your Next Step
Balancing peerness and diversity isn’t a one-time task—it’s a journey of constant reflection and adjustment. Start today by clarifying your team’s shared purpose and identifying opportunities for inclusion.
Have your own ideas on building balanced teams? Jot them down on a paper napkin and share with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom! Together, we can turn small ideas into big results.
Week in review
This week on the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast, we explored two transformative episodes that tackled impactful themes of leadership, resilience, and harnessing potential.
In Episode 210, award-winning spoken word poet and entrepreneur Sekou Andrews takes us on a transformative journey into the power of storytelling. Sekou challenges us to go beyond merely telling stories and instead become our story, embodying the narratives that define us as leaders and individuals. Through his unique approach, Sekou reveals how authenticity and vulnerability can elevate communication, inspire connection, and drive impact. Whether you're looking to sharpen your storytelling skills or redefine your personal and professional narrative, Sekou's wisdom in this episode offers actionable insights and powerful inspiration. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation with one of the most innovative voices in storytelling! Listen now.
In Episode 211, entrepreneur and skincare visionary Roberta Perry shares how embracing self-care and following her passion became the cornerstones of her success. As the founder of ScrubzBody, Roberta reveals the pivotal role of prioritizing self-care not just for personal well-being but as a driving force for professional growth. Her inspiring journey highlights the power of pursuing what you love, maintaining balance, and staying true to your values while building a thriving business. This episode is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt insights for anyone looking to align their passion with purpose. Tune in for an uplifting conversation with a leader who proves that self-care and success go hand in hand! Listen now.
Check them out here:
