Page 151 - The Design Thinking Playbook

In addition to the basic professional and human skills and development schedules, one component is of
particular importance to Lilly: harmonious togetherness, a team in which everybody can rely on everybody
else. What is important to Lilly is that her employees like coming to work, feel accepted and safe there,
and fall softly if they fall. The technical and professional expertise that is represented multiple times on
the team, a learning organization, and empathetic employees constitute a good solid basis for a so-called
”U-shaped team.” This form of a team is also crucial for a high level of effectiveness because safety and
security mean productivity.

The name can be inferred from the analogy of established systems, which, after a disruption, return to an
equilibrium and are more stable than they were before. Systems that break at the first sign of friction are
the opposite.

U-shaped teams help one another, are there for one another, even if one member has a bad hair day and
is not able to deliver his usual performance; these are teams in which you can make a mistake without
having to be afraid of losing your job.

U-shaped team

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