Operating Principle

2–4 min read

Team Intelligence Comes From Turn-Taking, Not IQ

Team Intelligence Comes From Turn-Taking, Not IQ

Team Intelligence Comes From Turn-Taking, Not IQ

The smartest team isn't the one with the smartest people, it's the one where participation is evenly distributed.

The smartest team isn't the one with the smartest people, it's the one where participation is evenly distributed.

The smartest team isn't the one with the smartest people, it's the one where participation is evenly distributed.

Research on collective intelligence found a group-performance factor predicted by equal conversational turn-taking and social sensitivity, not by members' average or peak IQ. How a team talks predicts performance better than how smart its members are.

Research on collective intelligence found a group-performance factor predicted by equal conversational turn-taking and social sensitivity, not by members' average or peak IQ. How a team talks predicts performance better than how smart its members are.

Research on collective intelligence found a group-performance factor predicted by equal conversational turn-taking and social sensitivity, not by members' average or peak IQ. How a team talks predicts performance better than how smart its members are.

Even turn-taking and social sensitivity outperform dominance by brilliant individuals.

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Operating Question

What behavior, decision right, or attention pattern is this leadership system reinforcing?

What behavior, decision right, or attention pattern is this leadership system reinforcing?

What behavior, decision right, or attention pattern is this leadership system reinforcing?

Why It Matters

Even turn-taking and social sensitivity outperform dominance by brilliant individuals.

Supporting Evidence

Woolley et al., Science, 2010.

Research Notes

Treat the finding as an operating lens and calibrate it to team size, stakes, and organizational context.

Practical Actions

Track airtime; invite quieter voices; cap uninterrupted speaking.

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