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THE POWER OF READING PEOPLE

complete tasks that align with their innate abilities, contrasting with
tasks that might not play to your own strengths.

In balanced teams, varying behavioral styles evolve to foster greater
understanding and tolerance. Members who are at opposite ends of
the behavioral spectrum learn to value each other’s unique contribu-
tions. Those whose styles lie somewhere in between act as bridges,

promoting harmony and shared comprehension within the group.

Key Point: Understanding and Aligning
Diversity Creates Team Synergy

Acknowledging that teammates think, perceive, and com-
municate differently from oneself is a crucial realization. This
recognition fosters understanding. Improved understanding
leads to enhanced communication and more effective conflict

management, and allows both you and your team to perform
at optimal levels. When these differences are not just acknowl-
edged but embraced, the team’s collective ability to collaborate
and succeed is significantly amplified.

Understanding that a colleague may struggle with adapting to
changes and taking risks due to their natural behavioral style is an
insight that should inform how they are perceived and engaged
within the team.

For a team leader, this understanding is invaluable. It guides them
to avoid stifling a creative team member with excessive organiza-
tional tasks, assigning a detail-oriented controller the job of igniting

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