logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
50m 2s

The Secret to Great Teams

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode

It's easy to think that the best teams are collections of highly accomplished or talented individuals, working under a skilled leader. But that's no guarantee of success. Psychologist Anita Woolley says the best teams are far more than the sum of their parts, and they share certain basic characteristics. 

Do you know someone who would enjoy Hidden Brain? Please tell them about this episode. And thanks for listening!  

Up next
Yesterday
The Trauma Script
When tragedy strikes, it’s natural to be devastated. But psychologist George Bonanno finds that many of us recover from life’s blows more quickly than we might expect. This week, we talk with Bonanno about his research and why it has changed how many scientists think about trauma ... Show More
50m 13s
Aug 18
How Our Brains Learn
Have you ever fallen asleep in school or during a work meeting? Maybe you felt your eyes glaze over as your boss or a teacher droned on and on about a topic that had no relevance to you. What's missing from these classrooms and conference rooms is engagement: A state of being abs ... Show More
1h 22m
Aug 11
The Best Years of Your Life
Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost our well-being. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Laura Carstensen, who helps us unpack the science behind this surprising finding, and s ... Show More
1h 19m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
The Secret to Leading Highly Collaborative Teams
If you’re leading a team, you know how hard it is to facilitate collaboration – especially when they don’t know each other well or may never meet in person. When people struggle to work together, it can harm productivity, morale, and talent retention. But New York Times bestselli ... Show More
29m 7s
Jun 2023
Success Secret #1: Build a High-Performing Team
We’re continuing the Summer of Success Series this week by sharing some of our best secrets around how to build a high-performing team. First, we’ll cover some of the biggest mistakes leaders make with their teams that keep their teams under-performing and keep the leader pre-occ ... Show More
27m 28s
Apr 2023
How do you build a successful team? With Eduardo Salas, PhD
Very few people do their jobs entirely on their own. For most of us, doing our job well means being part of a well-functioning team. Eduardo Salas, PhD, of Rice University, talks about the key ingredients of highly effective teams, the difference between team training and team bu ... Show More
38m 1s
Aug 2016
The Small Win Principle For Maximum Performance
One of the best skills you'll ever hardwire into your mindset + heartset is the skill of undefeatAbility. For years I've talked about "grit" being a primary trait of the most successful people in business and the corresponding research of Angela Duckworth at University of Pennsyl ... Show More
4m 24s
May 2022
#137 Justin Su'a: Peak Mental Performance
Justin Su'a calls on more than a decade of working with the world’s top athletes to discuss how to improve your mental performance. Su’a explores the strategies you need to be your best mentally with lessons that resonate well beyond the world of sports — including how to connect ... Show More
1h 30m
Dec 2016
How to Become Great at Just About Anything (Rebroadcast)
What if the thing we call "talent" is grotesquely overrated? And what if deliberate practice is the secret to excellence? Those are the claims of the research psychologist Anders Ericsson, who has been studying the science of expertise for decades. He tells us everything he's lea ... Show More
50m 11s
Jul 2023
The Best Leaders Are Also Technical Experts
Being a great manager isn't enough to lead others to success. You also need to deeply understand your organization's core business. Amanda Goodall studies the relationship between leaders and organizational performance. She argues that the best leaders are technical experts — for ... Show More
22m 25s
Oct 2023
#369 How to develop a high performing team
This week, Helen and Sarah talk about the factors that contribute to a high performing team. They dive into Patrick Lencioni's work on the Five Dysfunctions of a Team and share ideas for action to help you address common issues that impact teams. If you feel like your team would ... Show More
35m 37s
May 2019
Leading Small Teams
Do you have a hard time managing team dynamics? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Facebook executive Julie Zhuo. They talk through what to do when your subordinate is bossing around others on the team, a star performer you’ve hired threatens your status, or yo ... Show More
32 m