(ThyBlackMan.com) Individuality…it seems like this is a staple of American thought and tradition. We lift up individuals in society for their rags to riches stories and embrace the idea of growing up and ”trying to make it on our own” – it seems that the ultimate key to accomplishing goals is to rely on individual will and hard work. But is this really the case?
Sometimes this effort to be individualistic can prevent us from seeing the benefit and necessity of building a group that can tackle some of the world’s complex and sophisticated issues. This ties in to the idea of an effective 
leader that I articulated in an earlier post. Think about Michelangelo: even he needed more than one mind and body to create the masterpiece that was the Sistine Chapel. He might have seen the vision, and managed the overall vision of the project, but the skill of the other artists is noted in the beauty of the finished product.
Why do I think understanding groups is important? Groups add something to achieving goals. These slogans, ”United We Stand”, or ”Strength in Numbers” is not simply cliché or relevant to large movements. It is the idea that there is much more to be gained from the collective leadership and action of like-minded individuals.
From Bennis & Biederman’s Organizing Genius: ”Gifted Individuals working alone may waste years pursuing a sterile line of inquiry or become so enamored of the creative process that they produce little or nothing. A Great Group can be a goad, a check, a sounding board, and a source of inspiration, support, and even love.”
Working alone to create solutions to social and political issues may be very much like the quote described above. I think that a great leader should always be open and looking for people to share the burden of leadership and creative design, especially if one is truly motivated by a goal of reform or change. There is a caveat: we have all been in situations where it was not positive working in a group. This almost feeds into the idea that we are better off tackling problems alone. However, everyone has the potential to step up and lead. We can make functional groups by:
1. Finding the one aspect about each person in a given group which keeps them intrinsically motivated to work toward a common goal and constantly remind them of that thing.
2. Having the group buy in to working on one tangible goal at a time. This forces collaboration and a sense of shared awareness of what the end product should be.
3. Building trust and confidence in one another.
4. Embracing individuality of group members as a part of the collective good of the group.
Doing these things can develop the group into a force which can accomplish more than one individual can. We can name many individuals propelled to the title of great leader in the annals of history; yet even a supporting cast surrounded them.
”None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard
This could not be a truer quote to embody.
Staff Writer; Corey P.