Transferring the role of extravert and introvert to the functioning of a team, we propose that introverted Ruby Reds often provide a Baseline of Action for the team. While the extraverted Ruby Red might drive the team forward, the introverted Ruby Red will sometimes enter the dialogue when the team seems to bog down a bit. The introverted Ruby Red will gently nudge the team to take action: “Perhaps it’s time we move forward,” or ‘With the receipt of that piece of information [or clarification of that outcome] could we now finalize our plans?”
Similarly. We find that while extraverted Azure Blues often play an active role in helping the team identify its goals and purposes, introverted Azure Blues will provide a Baseline of Care. They will respectfully invite in the ideas of a team member who has been ignored (“plopped”) or offer a verbal or physical “hug” when a fellow team member expresses feelings of sadness, isolation, or disappointment. “I am so sorry that this has been a difficult topic for you to address,” or “We should avoid just passing by the observations and suggestions offered by Sharon.”
The introverted Golden Yellow can also provide an important baseline. They can offer a quiet inquiry into the nature of the world where their team dwells. The Baseline of Reality is often of great value when a team becomes too “dreamy” or too “action oriented.” While the extraverted Golden Yellow will often provide the spread sheets, customer survey results, and production reports at or near the start of a team meeting, the introverted Golden Yellow is more likely to wait for a while and offer questions rather than reports: “How do we know this is the case?” or “What might be an alternative list of implications regarding these results?”
The thumping sound of reality, beating heart of care, and loud shouts of action are not to be ignored, especially when the team faces the challenges of volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, turbulent, and contradictory conditions (VUCA-Plus) in their mid-21st-century world.
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