Dont just put your friends on your team

The speaker shares their experience of forming a team to launch a global service for Rolls Royce. Initially, the team lacked diversity in thought, leading to unsatisfactory results. Realizing the need for diverse perspectives, the speaker recruited thought leaders and mavericks, which transformed the team into a high-performing unit. This change led to a successful project outcome, generating significant revenue and client satisfaction. The key lesson is the importance of diverse ideas and the acceptance of initial friction in team dynamics to achieve high performance.

What was the main issue with the initial team formed by the narrator?

• Lack of trust among team members

• Too many confrontational ideas

• No one challenged each other's ideas

• Insufficient technical skills

What was the initial reaction of the client to the solutions provided by the team?

• They were indifferent

• They were confused

• They were disappointed

• They were impressed

Why did the narrator seek out thought leaders and subject-matter experts?

• To improve team morale

• To reduce project costs

• To bring in diverse and confrontational ideas

• To increase the team's size

What was the outcome after the team incorporated diverse perspectives?

• The team disbanded

• The team generated a multi-million pound revenue stream

• The client was unhappy with the results

• The project was delayed

What lesson did the narrator learn about team composition?

• Diverse teams may initially clash but lead to better outcomes

• Large teams are more effective than small ones

• Teams should always agree to avoid conflict

• Teams should be composed of only friends