Choosing Between a Personable Coworker and an Efficient One: What's the Best Approach?
In a recent discussion among friends, the topic of preferring a competent but cold colleague or a friendly but flaky one emerged. As a business owner, I found myself pondering over this question, and it seems the answer is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The conversation was more mixed than anticipated. On one hand, a friend argued for the value of competence, stating that it's crucial in a workplace. On the other hand, another friend expressed that working with a cold, calculative colleague can be painful. A third friend countered with the argument that working with a well-meaning but bumbling colleague can be equally challenging.
I must admit, my team currently seems to be composed of individuals who may fall into these extremes. There are those who are coldly efficient, delivering quality work with minimal emotional engagement, and others who are charmingly inept, contributing positively to team morale but struggling with productivity.
The existence of these two extremes, the coldly efficient and the charmingly inept, presents a unique challenge. While the former ensures quality work output, their lack of warmth can harm workplace relationships, reduce employee engagement, and create a less collaborative or supportive environment. The latter, though much liked, may be perceived as unreliable and thus reduce team efficiency and trust. The negative effects of flaky behavior often outweigh the social benefits because it contributes to a poor working environment and can drive up stress and burnout among coworkers.
Ideally, optimal teamwork balances competence with warmth to maximize both performance and engagement. This dream team would be composed of unicorns, who are whip-smart, emotionally intelligent, and competent, fostering good interpersonal relationships while delivering high-quality work.
Building any team is an act of compromise. I aspire to create a team that strikes this balance, where each member brings their unique strengths to the table, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. After all, a team that works well together can achieve great things.
In the pursuit of a harmonious and productive work environment, it's crucial to consider both competence and warmth in every team member, as a balance between coldly efficient individuals and charmingly inept ones can be challenging. This balance, often referred to as workplace-wellness, contributes positively to health-and-wellness, as it fosters a lifestyle supportive of relationships and effective teamwork, ultimately leading to greater success and personal satisfaction.
