What Google Learned from Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team

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What Google Learned from Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Instructor Due Date

2 What Google Learned from Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team Major Finding of Project Aristotle The major finding of Project Aristotle is that psychological safety within a team is paramount to its success. This means that when team members feel safe to take interpersonal risks, voice their opinions, and express themselves without fear of judgment or punishment, the team tends to perform better. The study found that the presence of psychological safety could predict a team's effectiveness. In addition to this key discovery, the research also highlighted the importance of clear goals and dependability for team success. Furthermore, two specific behaviors were consistently associated with "good" teams: conversational turn-taking, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to participate, and high average social sensitivity, signifying an understanding of and responsiveness to each other's emotions (Duhigg, 2016). These findings underscore the crucial role of emotional and interpersonal dynamics in shaping the outcomes of team collaboration. Project Aristotle's findings challenge the conventional wisdom that technical skills and individual brilliance are the sole drivers of team performance, emphasizing the significance of emotional intelligence and a supportive team environment in achieving success. Importance of Psychological Safety Project Aristotle consistently found that psychological safety was a critical factor in determining a team's success. As stated by Duhigg (2016), psychological safety occurs when team members feel they can trust one another enough to take risks in their interpersonal interactions inside the group. It entails feeling safe enough to speak out and express oneself without worrying about being ridiculed, ignored, or penalized. Several groups found this idea to be consistent throughout their work. Teams with more members who reported feeling secure

3 working together had better outcomes overall (Duhigg, 2016). Team members were more likely to communicate in an open, honest, and productive manner when they felt safe and supported in their relationships with one another. This resulted in higher levels of cooperation, creative problem-solving, and greater team effectiveness overall. Research from Project Aristotle has shown that psychological safety is crucial to high-performing teams' overall performance. Preference between Team A and Team B Given the choice between the two teams, I would prefer to join Team B. While they excel individually, their collective intelligence as a team is not significantly higher. In contrast, Team B may seem less efficient to an observer, with members sometimes speaking over each other and socializing. However, they display a strong sense of psychological safety, sharing personal stories and emotions. While Team B might not have as many individual stars, the sum of their collaboration proves to be greater than the individual parts. While Team A consists of high- performing individuals, the synergistic effect, psychological safety, and emotional connection within Team B make it a more attractive and potentially more successful environment for teamwork. This highlights the significance of psychological safety and collaboration in achieving a cohesive and high-performing team. Surprising Team Preference The article's suggestion that Team B is the more desirable choice did not come as a surprise. While Team A is composed of individually high-achieving members, Project Aristotle's findings emphasized the significance of psychological safety and effective teamwork. Team B, despite its occasional inefficiencies and tangential conversations, fosters an environment where members feel comfortable, emotionally connected, and trust one another. This sense of

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4 psychological safety leads to increased collaboration and, ultimately, better team performance. The suggestion aligns with the evolving understanding of effective teamwork, which emphasizes emotional connections, empathy, and interpersonal trust. While the individual stars in Team A might excel independently, this doesn't necessarily translate to collective success. Team B's emphasis on interpersonal relationships and collaboration acknowledges the importance of teamwork dynamics, making it a more attractive and logical choice for those looking to be part of a high-performing team. Two Specific Behaviors Shared Among "Good" Teams In study groups, two specific behaviors consistently shared among successful teams were conversational turn-taking and empathy. These behaviors were identified as crucial components in creating psychological safety and fostering effective collaboration. Conversational turn-taking: Successful teams ensured that every member had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation (Duhigg, 2016). They maintained an equal balance of speaking and listening, allowing all voices to be heard. This approach prevented any single individual from dominating discussions and encouraged a sense of inclusion and participation. Empathy: Good teams demonstrated a high degree of social sensitivity and emotional understanding among their members. Because everyone was sensitive to one another's emotions and needs, they were able to foster an atmosphere where people felt safe expressing themselves authentically (Duhigg, 2016). Because of the trust established, members of the team were able to speak their minds and work together more effectively. These two behaviors, when combined, helped establish the psychological safety necessary for teams to thrive and achieve their goals.

5 Concept of Psychological Safety The concept of psychological safety is a central theme in the article, and it holds immense importance in fostering effective teamwork. Psychological safety refers to the belief shared among team members that they can express themselves without fear of negative consequences like embarrassment, rejection, or punishment. It is essentially the feeling that the team is a safe place for interpersonal risk-taking. The article illustrates that psychological safety is vital for teams to perform at their best. It is the cornerstone of each healthy relationship, laying the groundwork for trust, appreciation, and open dialogue. True teamwork is possible when everybody on the team feel they can be open and honest about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, even the challenges they are facing. The real-life example of Matt Sakaguchi's disclosure of his Stage 4 cancer diagnosis is a powerful illustration of how psychological safety can transform a team (Duhigg, 2016). His openness paved the way for other team members to share their personal issues and challenges. This emotional sharing led to the team adopting new norms and ultimately strengthened their collaboration. Psychological safety is crucial in team interactions because it empowers team members to be themselves, communicate openly, and express their vulnerabilities. It makes sure that everyone's opinion counts and is taken into account. This helps foster a more cheerful and welcoming atmosphere at work, in addition to improving cooperation. Importance of Psychological Safety in Team Interactions Psychological safety is extremely important in team interactions. It fosters an atmosphere where team members can express themselves, take interpersonal risks, and engage in open and honest conversations. Team members are more inclined to share their ideas, work together productively, and settle problems in a healthy way when they have psychological safety. As a

6 result, productivity and morale within the group rise. Individuals in a team may feel less motivated, disengaged, and unhappy if they do not have a sense of psychological safety. Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways This article underscores the significance of psychological safety and interpersonal dynamics in team success. It highlights that the traditional emphasis on individual excellence and efficiency may not be sufficient for modern teamwork. The takeaways from the article are: Successful teams prioritize psychological safety, equal participation in discussions, and social sensitivity.  Emotional connections and empathy play a vital role in team cohesion and performance.  A data-driven approach can provide a common platform for addressing emotional and interpersonal aspects of teamwork.  Work is an integral part of life, and fostering emotional connections at work is essential for well-being and productivity. The article reinforces that building successful teams requires a balance between individual capabilities and interpersonal relationships. It encourages organizations to pay attention to the emotional well-being of their employees and the quality of team interactions, recognizing that these factors can be more critical to success than just optimizing efficiency and individual performance.

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7 Reference Duhigg, C. (2016). What Google learned from its quest to build the perfect team. The New York Times Magazine , 26 (2016), 2016.

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