Building the Ultimate Dream Team: Lessons from Google's Experiment

Team Work

Hey there,

I hope you're having a smashing day and that work has been productive! Now, right before we get into the good stuff, I want you to think about teamwork for a second and how you show up as a team member. Have you ever wondered what it takes to build the perfect team?

Well, hold on to your office chairs because Google went on a quest to find out, and the results are supremely fascinating! In an article featured in The New York Times, Google spilled the beans on what they learned from their fantastic exercises in team building. If you’re picturing a bunch of genius programmers huddled together in a futuristic lab, concocting the perfect formula for teamwork, you’re spot on.

Just kidding! While that would make for an excellent sci-fi movie, the reality is a little different. Through their exercises, Google discovered that it's not about the individual player, but rather the way the players collaborate and interact as a team. One of the interesting things they found was the importance of psychological safety.

Feeling safe to take risks and express ideas without fear of judgment or ridicule turned out to be a game-changer. So, the next time you're in a meeting and you have a crazy idea, go ahead and throw it out there. You never know, it might be the next big thing. Unless it’s world domination. That’s never a good idea!

Google also discovered that having a mix of introverts and extroverts in a team can lead to extraordinary results. Now, unfortunately, if it is world domination you’ve set your mind on, embrace the diversity in your team and let the introverts silently plot the logistics while the extroverts rally the troops with their contagious enthusiasm.

And here's a fun fact: Google found that having team members who are genuinely interested in one another's lives outside of work can have a positive impact on collaboration. So, don't be shy to chat about your pet fish’s latest adventures or your obsession with designer handbags. Who knows, you might meet a fellow handbag enthusiast who has an extra ticket to fashion week!

The takeaway: let's create a culture of psychological safety, celebrate our diversity, and bond over our shared love for handbags (have you seen the Prada Cleo). With Google's wisdom as our guide, we'll build teams that can conquer any challenge.

You’ve got this!

Afsheen