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Jumping to conclusions without trying to see an issue from another perspective is a poor method of operation. This is especially true in team settings.

Teammates create unnecessary drama when they rush to judgement before seeking alternative angles from which to view an issue. Being content to accept the most convenient point of view isn’t just lazy, it’s dangerous. Doing so causes needless division and leads to wasted time defending inaccuracies.

I like to refer to the drama spawned by teammates rushing to judgment as the Prince William Effect.

Shortly after the birth of their third child, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerged from the hospital with their newborn. As the crowd greeted the Royal Couple, a photographer snapped a photo of Prince William appearing to stick his middle finger up at a reporter.

Outrage ensued as the photograph zoomed through social media. How could Prince William lower himself to such public crudeness?

As it turned out, he didn’t. Another photographer captured the exact same moment from an alternative angle, and his photograph told a considerably different story.

Prince William was actually holding up three fingers, with his thumb holding down his index finger. He was joking to the reporter that he now had three children and “thrice the worry.” His hand gesture only appeared to be a lone middle finger from the other angle.

Once the alternative photograph emerged, the controversy immediately ended. For Prince William, the controversy was rather benign as far as controversies go. But when similar scenarios play out on teams, the outcome is usually much more disruptive.

For example, let’s say someone on your team is constantly arriving late. The simple explanation is this individual doesn’t respect the team’s time. Confronting the tardy teammate without seeing the issue from another perspective could cause him to be inappropriately branded, and his inevitable resentment could fracture the team.

Good teammates peel back the layers of why? before they accept the simple explanation.

Why is this teammate arriving late?

He always oversleeps.

Why is he oversleeping?

He goes to bed too late.

Why is he going to be too late?

He has a job that requires him to work a late shift.

Why is he working a job with a late shift?

He needs extra money to cover his mother’s medical bills.

What initially seemed like a careless, rude gesture—showing up late—turned out to be an understandable byproduct of an incredibly caring gesture—helping someone in need.

The only way for teams to avoid the potential destruction caused by the Prince William Effect is to peel back the layers of why? and seek alternative points of view. Good teammates care enough to realize they have a responsibility to view issues from other angles before they pass judgement.

As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.

Lance Loya is a leading authority on the good teammate mindset. He is a college basketball coach turned author, blogger, and professional speaker, who inspires TEAMBUSTERS to become TEAMMATES. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and through his weekly Teammate Tuesday blog.

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