ClassX Video Lessons A Lesson On the Psychology of Meetings from SNL and Google, with Charles Duhigg
Five years ago, Google set out on a fascinating journey to uncover the secret to building the perfect team. They believed that the right mix of personalities, like introverts and extroverts or strong leaders and followers, would lead to better team performance. However, their findings told a different story.
After investing millions of dollars and years into analyzing team data, Google discovered that the composition of a team didn’t significantly affect its effectiveness. This realization prompted researchers to change their approach, focusing instead on “how” team members interacted with each other.
Teams often develop unwritten rules, known as group norms, that shape their interactions. These norms can greatly influence team dynamics. For example, some teams might allow frequent interruptions, while others might follow a more orderly turn-taking system. Understanding these norms became essential in determining a team’s success.
Through their research, Google identified two crucial norms that significantly impact team productivity:
Effective teams ensure that all members have the chance to contribute. Meetings where only a few voices dominate can hinder collaboration and creativity. The best teams create an environment where everyone feels empowered to share their thoughts, regardless of their expertise.
Social sensitivity is the ability to perceive and respond to nonverbal cues from others. Teams that excel in this area can understand how their colleagues are feeling and thinking, leading to more meaningful interactions. For instance, if a team member seems disengaged, a socially sensitive colleague might address it directly, promoting open communication.
Interestingly, teams that prioritize conversational equality and social sensitivity might not always seem the most productive at first glance. Encouraging open dialogue and allowing for off-topic discussions can make meetings appear less efficient. However, these practices build psychological safety, which is crucial for team cohesion and effectiveness.
Psychological safety is the foundation of successful teamwork. It allows team members to express their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment. A great example of this concept in action is the early days of “Saturday Night Live.”
Despite the challenges of working with a group of egocentric comedians, “Saturday Night Live” thrived under the leadership of Lorne Michaels. His unique approach to meetings fostered an environment of psychological safety. Michaels ensured that every team member had a chance to speak, and he was attentive to the emotional states of his colleagues.
When someone appeared upset or disengaged, he would pause the meeting to address their feelings, showing a commitment to understanding and supporting his team. This approach, while time-consuming, ultimately contributed to the show’s success by creating a safe space for collaboration.
Google’s experiment highlights the importance of team dynamics over individual composition. By focusing on how team members interact and fostering an environment of psychological safety, organizations can enhance collaboration and productivity. The lessons learned from this research emphasize the value of open communication and emotional awareness in building effective teams.
Engage in a role-playing exercise where you and your classmates simulate different team scenarios. Each group will be assigned a specific set of group norms to follow, such as frequent interruptions or orderly turn-taking. After the exercise, discuss how these norms affected your team’s dynamics and effectiveness.
Participate in a workshop designed to improve social sensitivity. You will practice interpreting nonverbal cues through various activities, such as silent role-plays or emotion recognition games. Reflect on how these skills can be applied to improve team interactions and communication.
Analyze the case study of “Saturday Night Live” and its team dynamics under Lorne Michaels. Discuss in groups how psychological safety was fostered and its impact on team performance. Present your findings and propose strategies for implementing similar practices in other team settings.
Engage in a group discussion about the paradox of productivity. Debate the balance between conversational equality, social sensitivity, and perceived efficiency. Share personal experiences from team projects and explore how these concepts can be applied to enhance team effectiveness.
Attend an interactive seminar focused on building psychological safety within teams. Participate in activities that encourage open dialogue and trust-building. Collaborate with peers to develop a plan for creating a psychologically safe environment in your academic or professional teams.
Team – A group of individuals working together towards a common goal, often within an organizational or academic setting. – In social studies, the effectiveness of a team can be influenced by the diversity of its members and their ability to collaborate effectively.
Dynamics – The forces or processes that produce change within a group or system, often influencing behavior and outcomes. – Understanding group dynamics is crucial in psychology to predict how individuals will behave in different social settings.
Norms – Shared expectations or rules within a group that guide behavior and interactions among its members. – Social norms play a significant role in shaping cultural practices and societal values.
Communication – The process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings between individuals or groups, often considered a key component of effective teamwork. – Effective communication is essential in psychology to ensure that therapeutic interventions are understood and followed by clients.
Sensitivity – The ability to perceive and respond to the emotions and needs of others, often considered important in social interactions and psychological practice. – Cultural sensitivity is vital in social studies to ensure respectful and inclusive research practices.
Productivity – The efficiency with which tasks and goals are accomplished, often measured in terms of output over a specific period. – In organizational psychology, strategies to enhance productivity often focus on improving employee motivation and job satisfaction.
Safety – The condition of being protected from harm or danger, often considered a fundamental need in both physical and psychological contexts. – Psychological safety in the workplace encourages open communication and innovation among team members.
Collaboration – The act of working together with others to achieve a common goal, often requiring effective communication and mutual respect. – Successful collaboration in social studies research often involves interdisciplinary approaches and diverse perspectives.
Interaction – The process by which individuals or groups act upon and influence each other, often studied in social psychology to understand social behavior. – The interaction between different social groups can lead to cultural exchange and the development of new social norms.
Psychology – The scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing various subfields such as cognitive, social, and clinical psychology. – Psychology provides valuable insights into human behavior, which can be applied to improve educational practices and mental health interventions.
