Most team leaders try to build cohesion on their teams. Through team-building exercises and the careful establishment of norms and processes, leaders aim to create a culture of trust, psychological safety, and good feeling.
The Best Senior Teams Thrive on Disagreement
Research on the downside of consensus.
September 18, 2017
Summary.
Results from a study by a consulting firm indicate that while internal cohesion and psychological safety are important to executive team performance, they are not the most critical at the enterprise level. Rather, it is the ability to manage conflicting tensions—as opposed to seeking cohesion—that is the most predictive of top-team performance. The analysis found that the highest-performing senior teams are those that recognize and skillfully navigate three key tensions in particular: risks versus results; internal versus external pull; and top-down versus bottom-up innovation. These tensions are embraced as polarities to be managed rather than problems to be solved.
New!
HBR Learning
Team Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Team Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Build a better team and achieve more of what matters.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
Team Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Team Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Build a better team and achieve more of what matters.