HOW TO MAKE WISER TEAM DECISIONS: The Power of Age Diversity in Teams

Apr 9

a TALE OF TWO TEAMS

What would it feel like to be on a boat, seemingly lost at sea? The weather is cloudy, the compass (i.e. navigation equipment) is nowhere to be found, and the crew is confused.

That's how things can end up on a team where everyone is young and around the same age. Because there’s not much experience, there’s a lot of guessing that goes on.

I've been there, and when a crisis hits, it feels like trying to navigate through a storm without a compass!

In another scenario, consider being on a boat that's dropped anchor. It's straining to move forward but seems to be stuck in the same spot.

That's the metaphorical equivalent of a team where everybody is older and the same age. The decisions made tend to mirror the thoughts of a similar age group, failing to take into account the needs and perspectives of younger individuals.

Two teams:

Young teams are like a boat without a compass on a cloudy day. There's a lot of guessing, a lot of potential wrong turns, and a lack of clear direction.
On the other hand, teams with only older people are like a boat that's dropped its anchor, struggling to move forward because the lack of fresh voices and perspectives hampers progress.

(Granted, these are generalities. I have known older people who were lost in the fog and younger folks who were stuck in their thinking, too!)

But let’s not just dwell on the negative.

Let’s consider how these two age groups — the younger and the older — can each have their own advantages. And this has to do with the types of intelligence that each age group tends to possess.

Fluid Intelligence and Crystallized Intelligence

Picture your brain as a dynamic duo with two distinct superpowers.

First is crystallized intelligence.

This is your mental treasure chest filled with all the shiny gems of knowledge you've collected throughout your life.
This type of intelligence is about accumulated wisdom, vocabulary, facts, and skills.
Trivia mastery or crossword puzzles flex your crystallized intelligence muscles.

On the flip side, there’s fluid intelligence.

Fluid intelligence is the pretzel agility of the brain world. Twists and turns? No problem!

It's about your ability to think on your feet, solve new problems, and adapt to unfamiliar situations.
Fluid intelligence helps you navigate through life's twists and turns, whether it's figuring out a new gadget, mastering a new game, or brainstorming creative solutions to unexpected problems.

The two forms of intelligence are impacted by age:

Crystallized intelligence increases over time as you learn from experience and education.

Fluid intelligence is stronger when you’re younger and declines as you get older.

(Hmmm, upon closer look at that graph above, that declining fluid intelligence line looks a bit extreme! Hopefully we don’t all become that inflexible as we get older!)

(P.S. Graph obviously not to scale.)

A Wise Team

When teams have both seasoned and younger voices at the table, they come to better decisions:

They leverage the crystallized intelligence of older team members – the kind that comes from seeing things and having a variety of experiences.

Simultaneously, they benefit from the fluid intelligence of younger members, which is crucial for innovation and creative thinking. It's this blend of wisdom and innovation that ultimately propels a team forward.

Bottom line:

Teams with a diversity of ages have a better chance of generating better, more well-rounded decisions than teams with a single age group.

This is the magic of having a diverse team with different voices.

If you're a team leader, remember that a diverse age mix in your team is not just a 'nice-to-have'; it's a necessity.

Key takeaway?

Gain from crystallized AND fluid intelligence by seeking the input of both seasoned and younger team members.

You’ll get a more-rounded view and insights that you might have missed otherwise!

Want to develop and improve team decision-making?

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TIPS FOR WISER DECISIONS

Consider these tips to leverage the different types of intelligence on your team:

👥 Recruit diverse team members: Actively consider team members from different age groups to bring a variety of perspectives and experiences.
🔄 Blend crystallized and fluid intelligence: Encourage collaboration between team members to leverage both crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge) and fluid intelligence (problem-solving abilities) for wiser decision-making.
🎓 Promote continuous learning: Foster an environment where team members of all ages can share knowledge and learn from each other. This helps parties cross-pollinate the development of other types of intelligence.
💡 Value experience and innovation equally: Recognize the importance of both seasoned expertise and fresh ideas, creating a balance that optimally utilizes the team's diverse age groups.
🌟 Celebrate the value of each individual: Embrace the unique strengths that each age group brings to the table, encouraging people to appreciate the differences.
🤝 Encourage open communication: Facilitate open dialogue where team members feel comfortable sharing their insights and perspectives, regardless of age, ensuring that all voices are heard in the decision-making process.
🌐 Expand networks: Encourage team members to connect with individuals of varying ages outside the team, broadening their perspectives and networks for more informed decision-making.
🔍 Seek feedback: Regularly solicit feedback from team members of all age groups to continuously refine and improve decision-making processes, leveraging the collective intelligence of the team.