Why are groups so hard? From boring work meetings to dysfunctional families to warring nations, group dynamics shape every aspect of our lives. How can we avoid the common pitfalls of living and working together and get the most from our groups? The solution isn’t to change individuals—it’s to understand the world from a collective perspective.

Fisher, one of the world’s foremost experts on group dynamics, distills decades of research into practical strategies to help groups function at their highest levels. It all starts with knowing the six most potent factors that shape collective success: goals, tasks, composition, norms, psychological safety, and coaching. The secret to getting the most from your groups is using these factors to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics instead of being mindlessly pushed around by them.

Takeaways for Coaches:

• Understand how and why to take a “collective perspective” to make the influence of group dynamics evident
• Learn the elements of group structure that most influence effectiveness
• Use the “60:30:10” Rule as a framework for thinking about the relative efficacy and timing of structure, launch, and team leader coaching interventions to influence group dynamics and team effectiveness