1. Group members equally chime in during talks… and more often.
It’s not that you have to buy and implement an office conch (although that’s an awesome startup idea), but when one person owns the entire conversation in a group, productivity suffers. Be sure to add to the convo yourself, and ask introverts what’s on their minds.
2. Teammates have high emotional intelligence.
In the M.I.T. study, participants were given a test titled “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” (a bit groovy, we know). When participants could read emotions only from images of eyes, their teamwork was among the best. It’s not just getting the work done: it’s zeroing in on how everyone feels about it.
3. Great groups have a higher percentage of women.
Girl power! But seriously, the M.I.T. study also cites that the more women than men, the better teams perform. This finding was partially informed by the fact that women, on average, were better at “mindreading” than men. Sorry guys, but the ladies win this round.
4. Smart teams are racially diverse.
Scientific American points to a 2003 study by a University of Texas professor when he polled executives among 177 national U.S. banks. The more innovative, racially diverse banks experienced the best financial performance. Boost your creativity with a group that breaks the mold.
5. Smaller teams are mightier.
Bigger isn’t always better: smaller teams routinely get the job done more efficiently. Follow the Jeff Bezos “two pizza rule”: If you have to order more than two pizzas for the group meeting, then it’s time to trim the team (and double up on pepperoni).
