In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Colin Fisher, Associate Professor at UCL’s School of Management and author of The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups.

Colin breaks down why most teams underperform, it's not because of motivation or conflict, but because leaders focus their energy in the wrong places. Drawing on decades of research in group dynamics, creativity, and decision-making, he explains:

The 60–30–10 Rule and why team success is determined long before the team meets

What “real teams” actually look like (and why most groups don’t qualify)

Social loafing, the Ringelmann effect, and how structure prevents it

Why norms shape more of our behaviour than personality ever will

How polarization happens and what teams can do to prevent it

The importance of shared leadership, psychological safety, and brokers across groups

Packed with practical insights and backed by rich research and examples from sports, music, and organizational life, this conversation is essential for anyone building or leading teams.

Listen now and unlock your team’s collective edge.

Find out more about the work Colin does here: Colin M. Fisher