"Teams are one of humanity's greatest tools of innovation and discovery. One study showed that teams are six times more likely than individuals to produce breakthrough scientific innovations. But working in teams doesn't guarantee success. Groups can also make us less motivated, conformist, and polarized. In my new book, The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups, I rifled through decades of research about how to get the most from your teams."
"Goals: We've all heard about the importance and power of goals. That importance is multiplied by having a bunch of people trying to work together. I call it the "California Tomorrow Problem." If I say to you, "Let's meet in California tomorrow," the chances we succeed are about...0 percent. California is way too big to guide coordinated action. Even "tomorrow" is too vague for us to have much of a chance to end up in the same place at the same time."
Teams greatly increase the likelihood of breakthrough innovation but can also produce demotivation, conformity, and polarization. Six potent factors predict team success: precise, vivid shared goals; task design that makes work meaningful, varied, and feedback-rich; small teams, typically three to seven members; norms that promote effective communication and psychological safety; and coaching to develop team capability. Precise goals prevent coordination failures by focusing collective action. Thoughtful task design drives intrinsic motivation through importance and variety. Norms and coaching sustain collaboration, enable candid feedback, and help teams maintain performance over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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