Open-mindedness: Fostering a Crucial Characteristic for High-functioning Teams

Michael Klein, Leadership and Innovation 2023 Presenter | Fostering Open-Mindedness

Michael Klein

Senior Director, Portfolio Management & Operations Planning, Mayo Clinic

About the Presentation

Building a strong and cohesive team is a great way for leaders and team members to maximize their probability of successful outcomes, and working together in teams is an everyday occurrence for most of us. But is it just ‘the luck of the draw’ on the team members that we get, or are there principles to help build positive team dynamics with any given group? In this session, we will explore the concept of open-mindedness – why it’s different, how it works, and how we can use it effectively with our working teams.

“But what if I don’t work with open-minded people?” We will explore some ways to cultivate an open-minded mentality, even among the recalcitrant. We will talk through some myths regarding open-mindedness and how to dispel them. While open-mindedness is a strong facilitator of positive group dynamics, it’s not a panacea, so we’ll cover some watchouts. Finally, we’ll identify some ways that open-mindedness can serve as a critical bridge and binding agent for teams, even when individual members may have highly discrepant philosophies or styles.

Key Takeaways

  • What is open-mindedness and how does it differ from curiosity?
  • What are the principles of open-mindedness that we should follow?
  • What are some myths and limitations of open-mindedness that we should know?
  • How do we position our organizations for success with open-mindedness?

About Michael Klein

Michael Klein joined the Mayo Clinic in 2015, and his current responsibilities include oversight of its Enterprise Portfolio Management Office. Previously, Mike served as the Operations Administrator within a group that commercialized Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise in non-patient care settings. Before joining Mayo, Mike worked in finance at Procter & Gamble and as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank. He is currently a member of the Project Management Institute’s Global Executive Council and serves on their Advisory Committee. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard University and a master’s degree in business administration from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
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