Google Big Data Research on Team
- John Foley
- Oct 4, 2016
- 2 min read
The secret to great teams is psychological safety according to a Google study.
The NY Times reported recently on Google's Project Aristotle, an initiative that used big data to understand which teams within Google were the most successful. Project Aristotle—started in 2012—studied hundreds of teams at Google to try and figure out the key variables of success. The results pointed to surprising truths about what makes a team effective and productive.
It turns out, the most successful teams at Google aren't the ones with the most talent or the strongest leader. The most important factor in the success of its teams was what researchers call "psychological safety." That's an academic term for what we might commonly describe as a safe environment.
I experienced this kind of environment firsthand when I was flying with one of the greatest teams in history: the Blue Angels. It hit me full on the first time I sat in on a Blue Angel debrief. I was blown away by the openness of the pilots, their willingness not only to own up to their mistakes, but to be vulnerable, and to offer the full picture of what happened during the air show without fear. The safe environment they created actually eliminated fear, increased communication, and turned mistakes into wisdom.
Having those kind of effective group norms is a huge part of what makes the Blues such a great team. I have found that elite teams have some common elements including a process for both briefing and debriefing that creates focus on performance in a positive mindset. I encourage you to learn more about our performance framework and how it might enable your team to reach a higher level of performance with a mindset of gratitude and purpose larger than self.
Glad To Be Here!
~"Gucci"
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