Co-author Katherine Phillips, Associate Professor at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, argues that newcomers not only bring new ideas to the table, but that they change the dynamics of the entire team: “Every member of the group changes their response to a particular situation when a perceived stranger joins the team.” This effect, according to Phillips, improves overall creativity, critical thinking and effective problem solving.
Companies should be more sensitive to the benefits of bringing newcomers into a team: “A lot of companies are trying to play it safe in the current economic climate, and are sticking to what they are used to,” says Phillips. They should be doing the exact opposite. Employees tend to assimilate to one another when they work in the same team for a period of time: bringing in a stranger can challenge established patterns of thinking and push other colleagues out of their comfort zone.
Diversity goes deeper than differences in gender, ethnicity or skin color argues Phillips, who holds a degree in psychology and a PhD in organizational behavior. “Everybody is different, has a unique set of experiences and something new to bring to the table,” she argues. “You can be perceived as being different because you don't like football for example!” Companies should create an environment in which this diversity is valued and welcome, and should consciously introduce a newcomer as somebody who is different in one way or another.
For students this means that they need to be brave enough to stand out, especially when they enter a new company. Phillips' practical advice to students is to highlight their unique experiences and how they fit into the company culture, as well as their ability to adapt to change. Phillips admits that this is the last thing most people will do when jobs are scarce, but companies that know what’s good for them will seek these people out.
Her idealistic view is that business schools strive to turn out leaders and, “Leaders act differently. They can even be a little bit odd. But this is exactly how they challenge established ways of thinking and acting.”
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