Signpost 16
Strong cohesion can have the benefits and pitfalls of a small country town.
In a nutshell:
For teams, strong cohesion can boost performance, much like small-town communities rally around those in need. However, this can also lead to the exclusion of outsiders and limit fresh ideas, similar to how tight-knit communities might alienate those not part of their social bond.
Key Chapter: 16
• 16. 1 A positive attribute of small towns is the way communities rally around those in need. In larger towns and cities, it is easier to ignore the misfortunes of those we don’t know. The bad side of closed knit communities is that it can lead to alienation. The ugly side is when ongoing coexistence leads to the further alienation of outsiders, or those who are not part of the small-town social bond. p.54
• 16.2 A highly cohesive team might lead to increased performance, but might also suffer from stale ideas or miss on the benefits that come from the input of new members who challenge the team. p.55