Vanessa Druskat is an associate professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, and an internationally recognized expert in leadership and team performance. She has spent over 30 years studying what makes teams effective, pioneering the concept of team emotional intelligence. Vanessa’s research has transformed Fortune 500 companies, and her bestselling Harvard Business Review article, “Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups,” is considered essential reading for leaders around the world. Her latest book, The Emotionally Intelligent Team, offers actionable insights on cultivating high-performing, collaborative, and resilient groups.
On this episode we talk about:
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Vanessa’s early lessons about money and work ethic growing up in a family of educators
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Her career path from farm work to psychology and team leadership expertise
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The three core emotional needs every team member has—and why meeting them drives success
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How entrepreneurs and small business owners can foster strong team culture without big budgets
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What to do when “bad apples” threaten team culture—and how to know when to let them go
Top 3 Takeaways
1. The raw performance of a team depends more on shared emotional intelligence and clear behavioral norms than individual talent alone.
2. Meeting core social needs—belonging, shared purpose, and sense of control—drives trust, motivation, and collaboration across all generations and settings.
3. Even persistent team problems can be transformed; most “problem people” change when given voice and respect, but lasting non-participation means it’s time for tough decisions.
Notable Quotes
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"The biggest impediment to building great teams is the perspective that these are all adults in the room."
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"When people feel like they belong and have some control, they're more motivated to contribute."
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"You can create the environment you want—you're not stuck with an environment."
Connect with Vanessa Druskat:
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