Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson, an authority on team dynamics, shares her insights into the art of 'teaming.' She discusses how psychological safety is crucial for fostering high-performing teams and explores the concept of intelligent failures as valuable learning opportunities. Edmondson highlights the transformative power of organized teamwork in healthcare and emphasizes the need for clear communication and respectful dialogue in maintaining positive workplace relationships.
Teaming emphasizes adaptability and fluidity in team memberships, allowing organizations to respond more efficiently in dynamic environments like hospitals.
Psychological safety is essential for high performance, enabling open communication and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
Deep dives
Understanding Teaming and Its Significance
Teaming represents a modern approach to collaborative work, emphasizing the dynamic and fluid nature of team memberships today. Unlike traditional teams with stable memberships, teaming acknowledges that individuals often belong to multiple teams, reflecting the need for adaptability in contemporary work environments. This concept highlights the importance of focusing on processes and activities that facilitate effective teamwork rather than merely on structures. The discussion illustrated how this approach allows teams to function more efficiently, particularly in settings like hospitals where rapid, flexible responses are critical to patient care.
Navigating Failures for Growth
The conversation classified failures into three types: basic, complex, and intelligent failures, distinguishing that not all failures are detrimental. Basic failures are typically due to a single misstep, while complex failures arise from a confluence of factors, illustrating the multifaceted challenges organizations can face. Intelligent failures, however, are viewed as opportunities for learning and innovation, resulting from thoughtful experimentation in new areas. This framework suggests that organizations should foster an environment where intelligent failures are not just permitted but encouraged as a means to drive innovation.
Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is crucial for high performance, allowing team members to communicate openly without fear of retribution. This principle starts with leadership, requiring a clear understanding and communication of organizational goals to ensure everyone is aligned and feels valued. Training in interpersonal skills, such as effective questioning and active listening, is essential to cultivate an environment where all contributions are heard and respected. Ultimately, fostering psychological safety enables organizations to create a culture of continuous learning, where feedback and new ideas can thrive.
As mentioned inPoets&Quants, The Parlor Room's second season kicks off with Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson. In this episode, she sits down with host Chris Linnane to delve into the concept of "teaming" and how organizations can foster it successfully through clear communication, psychological safety, and intelligent failure.
GUEST
Amy Edmondson, CLIMB Faculty Chair, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management
RESOURCES
Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) program, HBS Online's most comprehensive offering featuring Edmondson's Dynamic Teaming course (https://hbs.me/2p9c3mvf)