First Person Plural: EI & Beyond How to Build a Team that Works with Vanessa Druskat
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Nov 6, 2025 Vanessa Druskat, an award-winning organizational psychologist and author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team, discusses the essence of team culture and emotional intelligence. She shares how early experiences in diverse cultures sparked her interest in team dynamics. Key points include the importance of belonging in teams, the risk of groupthink, and the difference between genuine connection and mere friendship. Vanessa also provides actionable strategies for leaders to foster team emotional intelligence, involving norms, assessments, and effective communication.
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Belonging Is The Core Need
- Belonging is the foundational social need that underlies trust, control, and shared understanding.
- True belonging combines being accepted, known, valued, and having influence in the team.
Belonging Must Be Invited
- You cannot make yourself belong; belonging must be invited by others in the team.
- Lack of belonging leads to ingratiation, disengagement, or dysregulated behavior.
Design For Dissent To Prevent Groupthink
- Encourage dissent and authentic voices to avoid groupthink and improve decisions.
- Use norms and explicit prompts that signal you want disagreements and unusual ideas.
