The Secret Ingredient of High-Performing Teams | Vanessa Druskat cover art

The Secret Ingredient of High-Performing Teams | Vanessa Druskat

The Secret Ingredient of High-Performing Teams | Vanessa Druskat

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

Individual emotional intelligence matters — but teams thrive when EI is built together, not carried by a few well-developed individuals. In this episode, Vanessa Druskat explains why high-performing groups rely on shared norms that create psychological safety, trust, and collaboration. We talk through her research-backed framework for turning work groups into emotionally intelligent teams, how leaders can shape better environments, and why optimism is a surprisingly powerful tool for motivation and change.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Vanessa Druskat

[7:08] What is Team Emotional Intelligence?

[13:02] Leader Behavior vs Team Norms

[18:24] The Discovery of “the Nine Norms”

[26:34] Engaging Stakeholders Beyond the Team

[33:19] Belonging Needs and Conformity

[42:01] Optimism As a Leadership Tool

[47:21] Coaching for Hope vs Problems

[50:42] Desert Island Music

[54:14] Grooving Session: A+ Teams vs A+ Individuals

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Links

About Vanessa

The Emotionally Intelligent Team

Join us on Substack!

Join the Behavioral Grooves community

Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube

Support Behavioral Grooves

Musical Links

Van Morrison - Days Like This

John Prine - In Spite of Ourselves

No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.