Belonging Cues
Small, often non-verbal cues can significantly impact team cohesion and performance.
Summary
Research by MIT Professor Sandy Pentland shows that communication patterns are the most important predictor of a team's success. Implement belonging cues such as maintaining close physical proximity, making eye contact, using energetic gestures, and encouraging equal participation in discussions. These actions create an environment of psychological safety and mutual respect, leading to improved team performance.
The idea
Teams who signal belonging cues are oftentimes more successful than those who have low scores.
The Evidence
Google, in 2002, was in competition with Overture to build an engine that connected the internet user with targeted advertisements. They had close proximity, whole-group problem-solving, equal speaking, and energetic gestures.
Greg Popovich, the Spur's Coach, would host dinner, high-five his players, and generally create an air of intimacy and closeness.
Sandy Pentland (MIT Professor) equipped members of teams with electronic badges (“sociometers”) that collected data on their individual communication behavior—tone of voice, body language, whom they talked to and how much, and more. With remarkable consistency, the data confirmed that communication indeed plays a critical role in building successful teams. In fact, we’ve found patterns of communication to be the most important predictor of a team’s success. Not only that, but they are as significant as all the other factors—individual intelligence, personality, skill, and the substance of discussions—combined.
Actions to Take
Incorporate these belonging cues in your next meeting:
- Close physical proximity, often in circles
- Profuse amounts of eye contact, physical touch (handshakes, fist bumps, hugs)
- Lots of short, energetic exchanges (no long speeches)
- High levels of mixing; everyone talks to everyone
- Few interruptions
- Lots of questions
- Intensive, active listening
- Humor, laughter
- Small, attentive courtesies (thank you's, etc.)
Sources
(s)Daniel Coyle’s The Culture Code: The Secrets of High-Performing Teamshttps://hbr.org/2012/04/the-new-science-of-building-great-teams
Belonging Cues
Foster Team Cohesion Through Non-Verbal Communication
Summary
Research by MIT Professor Sandy Pentland shows that communication patterns are the most important predictor of a team's success. Implement belonging cues such as maintaining close physical proximity, making eye contact, using energetic gestures, and encouraging equal participation in discussions. These actions create an environment of psychological safety and mutual respect, leading to improved team performance.
Belonging Cues
Foster Team Cohesion Through Non-Verbal Communication
Summary
Research by MIT Professor Sandy Pentland shows that communication patterns are the most important predictor of a team's success. Implement belonging cues such as maintaining close physical proximity, making eye contact, using energetic gestures, and encouraging equal participation in discussions. These actions create an environment of psychological safety and mutual respect, leading to improved team performance.
Belonging Cues
Foster Team Cohesion Through Non-Verbal Communication
Citations
Podcast
Small, often non-verbal cues can significantly impact team cohesion and performance.
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