What Can Drystone Walls Teach Us About Building Stronger Teams?

In the complex landscape of talent acquisition, the traditional "culture fit" approach is increasingly revealing its limitations.  Organisations must reconsider how they build teams, understanding that true strength comes from diversity, not uniformity.

Now the word 'diversity' is getting a bad rap these days, with some countries seemingly wanting to wipe its ethos from the face of the earth.  I would suggest that this approach is a lost cause…  If there's one thing about a diverse system, it's that by definition it is built for survival.  It may have to weather a few storms, but ultimately it will survive and thrive.

But I digress...

When thinking of Diversity in Business, consider two architectural metaphors for team building: the brick wall versus the drystone wall.

The Brick Wall: Rigid Culture Fit

A brick wall represents traditional hiring practices focused on uniformity.  Each brick is identical, tightly mortared into a seemingly stable structure.  However, this rigidity becomes a critical weakness when faced with organisational challenges.  When external pressures emerge, this wall becomes brittle, prone to cracking and requiring extensive reconstruction.

Similarly, teams built on homogeneous "culture fit" principles struggle with:

·       Limited perspective

·       Reduced innovation potential

·       Decreased adaptability

·       Vulnerability to disruption

The Drystone Wall: Diversity-Driven Resilience

Conversely, a drystone wall demonstrates the power of diverse elements working collaboratively.  Comprising stones of varying shapes, sizes, and origins, this wall adapts dynamically to environmental shifts.  Each unique stone contributes to the structure's overall strength and flexibility.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring mirrors this architectural approach by:

·       Introducing multiple perspectives

·       Enhancing problem-solving capabilities

·       Creating inherent organisational adaptability

·       Fostering innovative thinking

The strategic imperative organisations must recognise that diversity isn't just a moral imperative, it's a strategic advantage in an ever-changing business landscape.