The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups

by Colin M. Fisher

A fascinating exploration into the surprising science of group dynamics that will forever change how you live and work

Your life is full of groups. Your work teams. Your families and friends. Your race, religion, and nationality. But most people explain the world in terms of individuals. We spend surprisingly little time thinking about what groups really are, how they work, and how to get the best out of them. 

The Collective Edge will change the way you think about the world around you and your place in it. Our tendency toward cooperation is the foundation of human accomplishment. Nearly every scientific discovery, world-changing business, desert island musical album, and legendary sports team has a great group at its core. Groups, and group dynamics, are at the heart of the human story. 

Yet living and working in groups is both a blessing and a curse. Too often, groups are in the news for all the wrong conformity, polarization, prejudice, conflict, and general mass stupidity. The secret is understanding how to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics instead of being mindlessly pushed around by them. Once you start thinking at the group level, you’ll

How to build teams that can be more than the sum of their parts (synergy)How to harness the motivating power of competition without inviting in conflictWhy conformity pressure can sometimes be positive Why effective group leadership is different than you think
Colin Fisher is one of the foremost experts in the world on group dynamics, and he skillfully weaves together the latest scientific research with vivid storytelling. He helps explain everything from billionaire yacht-collecting habits to Star Trek villains to the 2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. In doing so, he shows you how you can use the surprising truth about group dynamics to help you succeed in life and at work.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Leadership, Self Help, Business

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Since his days as a professional jazz trumpet player, Dr. Colin M. Fisher has been fascinated by group dynamics. As Associate Professor of Organizations and Innovation at University College London’s School of Management, Colin’s research has uncovered the hidden processes of helping groups and teams in situations requiring creativity, improvisation, and complex decision-making. He has written about group dynamics for both popular science and management audiences, and his work has been profiled in prominent media outlets such as BBC, Forbes, NPR, and The Times. Originally from Redmond, Washington, he now lives in North London with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Teresa Amabile · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second chapter of The Collective Edge, Colin Fisher’s brilliant new book on group dynamics, I read something that I dearly wish I had seen at the start of my career 50 years ago:

“Trying to produce [group] synergy is like gardening. You have some control over the soil and location. You can water and feed your plants. But you can’t cause them to grow. You don’t control the weather. You don’t control pests or disease. You can only do your best to put in place the conditions for them to grow.”

With that one insight, I would have been much better equipped to form and lead the research groups in my lab over the years, to guide the student teams doing projects in my courses, to advise the R&D-focused companies to whom I consulted. And that is just one of dozens of important insights you’ll find in this enormously enjoyable, firmly research-grounded book.

https://www.amazon.com/Collective-Edg...

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anyone in a group- whether work-related or social. Colin uses a good balance of scientific research and real-life examples, written in a way that is easy to understand for even those with no science or research background. As a musician, I especially loved the musical examples!

[Mahdi Abdelwahab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Colin's work, and when he announced his book, I was fortunate enough to read it before its official release. The book is written in an engaging and accessible style that presents academic knowledge in a practical and digestible manner. However, it took me longer than expected to finish it. While I could quickly read each chapter, the reflections and practical insights prompted me to spend additional time revisiting my notes.

"The Collective Edge" offers meaningful reflections on one of the current global challenges in our systems. It presents these concepts in a simple and even humorous way that is easy to understand.

Having worked in the field of health systems change for over ten years, I realized that collaboration and collective action are often much harder to achieve in practice than in theoretical plans or recommendations. This was evident in the responses of European countries to COVID-19, where a lack of coordination and collaboration was apparent between countries, within institutions in the same country, across different departments of the same organization, and even at the individual level. This hindered effective preparedness and response, despite the existence of emergency plans.

Colin's book serves as a concise guide for individuals and teams interested in exploring collaboration and unlocking their full potential to achieve real synergy.

I would definitely recommend this book to my students, collaborators, and anyone interested in the applied science of group work. It should not be confined to the category of academic textbooks; it deserves to be in the hands of leaders, coaches, consultants, activists, impact makers, and anyone eager to solve complex problems.

[Ophelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on group dynamics! In a world where society and politics is as polarised and divided as ours, it was refreshing to read a book about how we can collaborate better together - and what the myriad benefits of good team work are. The author has created a fun yet thorough overview of all the research that has been done on groups and teams. I particularly loved the examples, anecdotes and careful explanations of studies and data. One new concept I came away with was synergy: groups are more than just the sum of their parts (individual group members and their contributions). One great discovery was the debunking of traditional team building strategies (think trust falls): research shows they actually don't work! Just make your team practice the actual task! Fisher gives some great insights into conformity pressure and the role of competition (whoever speaks first in a group influences the other members). I feel like I learned so much and am finding myself applying some of the tips in my own work teams and even friend groups.

[Kim Jaussi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collective Edge, by Dr. Colin Fisher, should be a required reading for any class or workshop on Teams. It is a wonderful resource for any person working with a team in any capacity, whether it be a work team, a project team, a student team, a non-profit organization, sports team, etc. As a top, Harvard-trained scholar who specializes in teams and creativity, Dr. Fisher has grounded this book in the most rigorous, peer-reviewed research. BUT, unlike many academics, Colin Fisher, with his unique background as an elite jazz musician, has the personality, voice, unique experiences, and writing talent to translate those top research-based findings into interesting, varied, engaging examples of team situations that are written in a way that any person will find enjoyable to read. The best bonus to the enjoyable reading is that the book is filled with very specific and actionable recommendations for immediate application in any team-based context. In all, this book is definitely one that will become the classic primer on how to effectively understand, design, work in, and lead teams!

[Ryan Fehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collective Edge is engaging, entertaining, and informative from cover to cover. Colin Fisher weaves compelling stories with the latest scientific findings on how to help groups run well. I especially appreciated the "Group Thoughts" at the end of each section, which gave me practical tools I started using right away. As one example, the author makes a compelling case for writing down group goals and processes to help everyone remember them. I tried it out and it worked like a charm. As another example, the author does an excellent job distinguishing healthy conflict from unhealthy conflict and helping the reader navigate the difference.

[Julianna Pillemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fisher is a fantastic storyteller, bringing research to life in this excellent synthesis of what we know about how to be effective in teams. Recommend this read for anybody trying to work well in a collective (in other words, everyone)!

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have selected this book as Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 8/31, as it stands heads above other recently published books on this topic.

[Sunny Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend. The author translates years of research into clear insights and real-world examples!

Two takeaways stayed with me.

First, team success and culture depend far more on structure (including incentives) than individual effort.

Second, great leadership today isn’t only about charisma, it’s about listening and inquiry. Listening is indeed a rare skill.

An excellent read for anyone who wants to build smarter, more connected teams.

[Ioana A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Most of what makes a book ‘good’ is that we are reading it at the right moment for us.”

That’s exactly how this book felt. Over the past few months, I’ve been frustrated with how some projects were unfolding, especially with our expansion abroad adding layers of complexity—different cultures, languages, expectations, and working styles. The pressure on teamwork kept growing, and I realized I needed a new perspective. This book provided exactly that.

What I loved most was the way the author blended personal stories with academic research, making the ideas both credible and easy to follow. I appreciated how the book links everyday group dynamics—like competition, conformity, and leadership—to the bigger question of why some teams thrive while others fall apart, explained through stories that make the research engaging and relatable.

After reading it, I began noticing familiar patterns in my own teams, which made me realize just how dysfunctional we are at this stage.

Coming across the term “innovator’s dilemma” was especially striking, because it perfectly describes the crossroads I’m at right now.

For me, this wasn’t just a good read—it was the right book at the right time.

[John Crippen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between the title, sub-title, and cheesy creativity image on the front cover, this looks like just another light, business self-help book. But Fisher's interview on the EconTalk podcast intrigued me, and I'm glad I read the book in spite of its cover. Organized into multi-chapter sections on cooperation, conformity, competition, and leading groups, the book explains how the structure of a team is its most important aspect. Using what the author calls the collective perspective, he describes the different components of team structure, then covers the pros and cons of conformity and competition in relation to group effectiveness. In some ways, the book does live up to its cover: it has blind end notes, the writing style is conversational and witty, most of the sections start with the same letter, and he references both the Stanley Milgram and the Robbers Cave experiments. Regardless, I am taking the lessons I learned here about group structure to the office, and using them in my own psychological test!

[Eva Jannotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great—practical, informative, and surprising. I learned a lot about groups that I didn't know, and unlearned some assumptions I barely knew I had. And the research and stories are applicable much more widely than to work teams: Colin draws on examples from history, music, pop culture and even cults (a chilling story). It got me thinking about how to apply his advice about structure and dynamics to the choir I'm part of. Plus, the book is funny! Not in in a "haha comedy" way, but in the sense that there's levity and quirky stories and examples that I really enjoyed.

A few concepts that really stood out to me: effective dissent, why groups lean us towards extremes, the one dollar bill auction (WILD!), the upsides of conformity.

Also, as a Harry Potter kid, his Sorting Hat story immediately got my attention (though to be clear, you don't need to be a HP fan to appreciate it, I swear).

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure how I acquired this title as I’m retired and not often involved in group situations in a workplace. However, it’s proved to be quite fascinating and has relevance in domestic situations too. In the workplace, this is a book I’d have welcomed some years ago. Thrown into group situations as both leader and participant, I had little insight into group dynamics from any perspective. Workplace groups are diverse and for everyone within the group, interactions are critical if objectives for all are to be achieved. But how to manage the disruptor, the mouse who won’t participate, the wannabe leader, the bored….This title looks at numerous ways in which to deal with different situations and gives the reader insight into which buttons to press and which to ignore. I’ve really enjoyed this and have found it interesting in social situations. Practical, engaging and well written.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

[Peter Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains groups in their many concepts, and how to understand them, utilise them, improve them and enjoy them.
It explains how lots of things that the ordinary reader would not consider to be a group (such as a family or a sports team) can be looked at as just this.
The work is comprehensive and enjoyable (although inevitably some parts go into too much detail for the ordinary reader).
There were lots of examples from recent, and not so recent events that I would not have considered relevant to groups, but now know that they are. I learnt lots of facts and lots of context.
I would recommend anyone who has an interest in understanding the workings of the world to read this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alfred Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Collective Edge” argues that teamwork isn’t about rigid hierarchies or tired slogans like “teamwork makes the dream work,” but about improvisation. Colin Fisher likens effective teams to a jazz band: no conductor, just sensitivity to others and the ability to pick up the thread at the right time. It’s less about control and more about trust and flexibility.
The book works because Fisher grounds his points in real examples — from creative studios to research labs. There’s some academic background, but the language stays approachable. The downside is a touch of standard “business book” feel in places, but the main idea is refreshing: a group’s strength comes from each person being themselves while still playing in sync.

[Katina Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collective Edge is a wonderful read for anyone who works in a team, manages a team, or wants to improve their ability to work together with others. Working well together is core to organizational and societal success - but it's harder than it seems. Colin breaks down the challenges that groups face in working together, while also providing solutions for overcoming them. This book is full of practical takeaways for creating better and more effective teams that can be applied right away. A must read!

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley for an electronic ARC.
An interesting read about group formation and dynamics. I found my initial reading of it quite challenging but will go back to revisit as there are plenty of passages I marked for thought and reflection for work. I also enjoyed examples being drawn from both music and sport

[Jeffrey Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collective Edge is fascinating or what it reveals about human group dynamics -- backed by hard research, but it is also imminently practical. As a leader of many groups in school and a teacher of collaboration, I found myself noting all sorts of useful tips and even recommended it to school administration as a possible focal point for our institutional development.

[Bookwormbadger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting non=fiction book about the power of groups, group dynamics and organisational behaviour. I found it fascinating, relatable and thought-provoking.

[Joshua Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more outstanding books on team dynamics / performance I’ve read.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin Fisher is a world-renowned expert on group dynamics who knows how to translate rigorous research into practical takeaways. He draws examples from business and beyond that evoke memories we all have of groups at their best and groups at their worst. This wonderful guide is full of insights that I will be thinking about for years to come!