The End of Fierce Individualism

Mere mortals become larger players through teams

Here, I share a blueprint of what a well-run team looks like and explain why the power of teams trump the appeal of the rugged individualist.

America loves a fierce individualist. Yes, there is something inspiring about an enterprising loner or an executive of a large corporation blazing a path for the good of our future. Although our culture will always celebrate the individual, I insist that the business world acknowledge the truth behind the (alleged) Aristotle quote: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” In other words, the near future will be all about innovation for sustainable value creation, led by teams.

In a world that becomes more complex by the day, “command and control” is out, and employee engagement is in. The days when a larger-than-life personality is allowed to steamroll over the rest of the company are done. That behavior destroys morale, which destroys results. Teams, not individuals, drive performance.

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Comments

I Dissent

What about golf and bowling?

Yes, I see the value in teams but that doesn't mean the end of individualism. One man can still change the world.

Tribe-ism

I dissent, too, though partially: team-building was made a god-child but it still does not work. Nowadays, less than ever: man is man's wolf, as the Ancients say, and it's more true now than ever. If a Tribe has to survive, it needs a Shaman, certainly not meetings, committees, conventions, consensus. The Ancients went along with Tyrants, Democracy is just a word, invented by some utopian ideologist; and it only works when the "demos", the Population, is under attack. Before and afterwards, each one for himself and God for all. Tee-m is only good for golfing ...