Why You Need More "Thinkers" on Your Team

When you're bringing people onto your team, you may be thinking primarily in terms of how they'll fit in with your organizational culture. That's definitely an important thing to keep in mind. However, when you're interviewing candidates, you may come across people who aren't very sociable. And, it's not because they're shy; they're very articulate and communicate well—they just don't have much of an interest in people. In a nutshell, they seem to be short on empathy.

 

Now, before you dismiss such people out of hand, you might want to stop and consider whether their strengths make up for the weakness. Of course, you don't want anyone on your team who is going to completely disregard the feelings of others—especially if they're in a public-facing role. Nevertheless, sacrificing a bit of interpersonal warmth is worth it if you're getting something in return. Perhaps the people who lack “feeling” are just more inclined toward “thinking.” And certainly you could use more “thinkers” on your team.

 

Thinkers are problem-solvers. They may not be able to relate to people—but they relate very well to systems. They may not be able to form relationships—but they excel at forming solutions. If you fill your team only with “feelers,” people may like you—but you won't be able to deliver on your promises. Thinkers help you get things done, because they're focused on the job. At the end of the day, you'll need both kinds of people on your team. Always be thinking of what kind of person you need to fill the gaps on your team. There's usually room for everyone.