The secret to team efficiency - Project Aristotle

They used the code-name Project Aristotle for their search - a tribute to Aristotle’s quote, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". The thesis of the Google researchers was that employees can do more working together than alone.

Teams are highly dependent of their members - they plan work, solve problems, make decisions, and review progress for a specific project. Team members simply need each other to get work done. The researchers at Google found that what really mattered was less about who is on the team, and more about how the team worked together. 

Factors in order of importance for team efficiency

1. Psychological safety: In a team with high psychological safety, members of a team feel safe to take risks around their teammates. It is about feeling confident enough that no one on the team will embarrass a colleague for admitting a mistake, asking a question, or offering a new idea.
2. Dependability: On dependable teams, members complete quality work - on time.
3. Structure and Clarity: Goals are often set at the individual or group level, and must be specific, challenging, and attainable. Understanding of job expectations, the process for delivering on expectations, and the consequences of performance are important for team effectiveness. 
4. Meaning: Team effectiveness is dependent of individuals finding a sense of purpose in either the work itself or the output. The meaning of work is personal and often varies from one individual to another.
5. Impact: It is important for teams that their work is making a difference. Having a clear picture of how one’s work is contributing to the organization’s goals can improve impact.

The Google research team also wanted to offer tips for improvement and empower Googlers to understand the dynamics of their own teams. They suggested a survey on the five topics for teams to take and they recommended the teams to have a discussion after having received the reports.

Curious to know more on the topic? Check out Amy C. Edmondson, PhD at Harvard Business School. According to her work, starting more than 20 years back, psychological safety is of great importance for organizations with learning, innovation and growth on the top of their agenda.