What might Michael do to become more of a team player? What might his coworkers do to facilitate teamwork and help Michael feel more included?

Diversity in Management
Case study 1
Michael is a Black college graduate and the divorced father of a teenage son, Aaron,
who attends a private school in the well-to-do suburb where they live. Michael is a
brilliant loner. As a student, he made a habit of avoiding group assignments and group work whenever possible. At work, he prefers to stay to himself. If he has to work with others, he prefers projects in which everyone has individual responsibilities. Teaming with coworkers, he feels, slows him down and lessens the quality of his work. Michael readily points to examples of his work on groups. In some instances, the final product, he thinks, is not nearly as good as what Michael feels he is capable of creating alone. When he is not the group leader, Michael feels as though his talents are underutilized. Invariably, he gets assigned tasks that do not challenge him. In addition, Michael largely avoids interacting with other employees after work. He does not dislike other employees; rather, he feels somewhat uncomfortable. At company picnics and parties, he has a difficult time finding common ground in his conversations with coworkers. His taste in music, food, and entertainment is clearly not the norm for this group. Because he is often one of only a few African-Americans at these functions, he feels “under the spotlight.” Consequently, he relishes his time away from work, where he can be himself, play with his son, and relax.
Questions:
1. Michael’s experiences at work illustrate obstacles to teamwork. What are these
obstacles, and how do they interfere with teamwork?
2. What might Michael do to become more of a team player? What might his
coworkers do to facilitate teamwork and help Michael feel more included?

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