SPEAK LIKE A CEO 304: How to Build an Elite Team that Delivers. Dr. Vanessa Druskat
Nov 20, 2025
Dr. Vanessa Druskat, an organizational psychologist and co-author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team, shares her insights on building elite teams. She emphasizes that individual emotional intelligence alone isn’t enough; it's the norms that shape team dynamics. Discover the three essential norms for high-performing teams: fostering belonging, establishing a shared purpose, and reaching out for diverse input. Vanessa also discusses how structured communication can unlock team potential and transform team culture rapidly, even in challenging environments.
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Adopt Three Core Team Norms
- Focus on three clusters of norms: getting to know one another, including all voices to build shared direction, and reaching outside for new information.
- Embed these norms as routines so teams habitually create belonging, clarity, and external awareness.
Know How Teammates Think, Not Their Privacy
- Build belonging by knowing how teammates think, their strengths, weaknesses, and work preferences rather than prying into private life.
- Use work-focused questions (e.g., best job, worries, excitements) to reveal thinking and increase understanding.
Kick Off Norms With A Focused Workshop
- Kick off norm changes with a focused 3–4 hour workshop then maintain routines like meaningful check-ins during meetings.
- Ask emotionally salient questions such as 'What's keeping you up at night?' to surface concerns and align the team.
