Second City Works presents "Getting to Yes, And" Getting to Yes, And… | Colin Fisher – ‘The Secret Power of Groups’
Sep 30, 2025
Colin Fisher, an Associate Professor at University College London, shares insights from his book, *The Collective Edge*. He discusses how categorizing people limits relationships and collaboration, echoing themes from the Harry Potter sorting hat. Fisher emphasizes the importance of building trust through task-focused collaboration rather than mere exercises. He critiques both traditional leadership structures and individualism, advocating for shared leadership and open communication to enhance group effectiveness. His research underscores how social sensitivity plays a crucial role in team success.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Ways To Dissent Productively
- Two effective dissent strategies: earn goodwill then cash idiosyncrasy credits or be a consistent tolerated deviant who allies across issues.
- Consistent, respectful dissent plus relationship-building influences groups more reliably than occasional surprise objections.
Being Excluded Then Reinstated At Second City
- Kelly described being punished socially when she spoke up and then later restored to the leadership team by a new boss who promoted open collaboration.
- That shift improved team norms and reduced the 'stay in your lane' mentality at Second City.
Leadership Teams Fail From Bad Design
- Senior leadership teams often fail because their task is ill-defined and teams grow too large for meaningful discussion.
- Smaller, well-scoped leadership groups enable strategy work and genuine dissent.
