241. Team Spirit: How to Make Group Work Work

In this episode of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams interviews Colin Fisher, an expert in organizational behavior, about effective group communication and teamwork. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of group work, emphasizing the importance of diversity, psychological safety, clear goals, and manageable group sizes (ideally between four and five people). Fisher provides practical advice on forming successful teams, establishing communication norms, and running productive meetings by eliminating unnecessary ones, defining clear purposes, and inviting only essential participants. Colin shares insights from his experience as a jazz trumpeter, highlighting the importance of listening in effective communication, and identifies asking questions, listening to the answers, and building on responses as key ingredients for successful communication.