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Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius – The Behavioral Science of Essential Leadership Habits
The New York Times bestselling author debunks the myths of what makes great leaders and effective teams, revealing the simple habits that help leaders unlock team intelligence.
Ever wonder why some of our most effective leaders aren’t known for the skills we’ve been told are essential for great leadership? Would you describe Elon Musk or Steve Jobs as having empathy or humility? Of course not, and yet they’ve led teams that achieved extraordinary results. So, what leadership attributes, habits, and skills do cause teams to become more than the sum of their parts? Why does a team made of up superstars often underperform? What causes teams to work together effectively and produce high team intelligence?
For the past fifteen years behavioral scientist and New York Times bestselling author Jon Levy has gathered thousands of the most respected leaders from across industry—Nobel Laureates, Olympic team captains, astronauts who commanded the ISS, military leaders, and corporate CEOs—to find answers to these questions. In Team Intelligence, he unpacks the myths that hold leaders and their teams back and points out the paradox of focusing on creating teams that operate well is what makes an effective leader, but focusing purely on the leader does almost nothing for the team. In Team Intelligence, discover cutting-edge research, surprising stories, and the essential habits that unlock collective genius.
Ever wonder why some of our most effective leaders aren’t known for the skills we’ve been told are essential for great leadership? Would you describe Elon Musk or Steve Jobs as having empathy or humility? Of course not, and yet they’ve led teams that achieved extraordinary results. So, what leadership attributes, habits, and skills do cause teams to become more than the sum of their parts? Why does a team made of up superstars often underperform? What causes teams to work together effectively and produce high team intelligence?
For the past fifteen years behavioral scientist and New York Times bestselling author Jon Levy has gathered thousands of the most respected leaders from across industry—Nobel Laureates, Olympic team captains, astronauts who commanded the ISS, military leaders, and corporate CEOs—to find answers to these questions. In Team Intelligence, he unpacks the myths that hold leaders and their teams back and points out the paradox of focusing on creating teams that operate well is what makes an effective leader, but focusing purely on the leader does almost nothing for the team. In Team Intelligence, discover cutting-edge research, surprising stories, and the essential habits that unlock collective genius.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
84 people are currently reading
2498 people want to read
About the author
Jon Levy
3 books26 followersJon Levy is a behavioral scientist specializing in Trust, Leadership, and Teams. He is the author of the New York Times Best Seller You’re Invited and the newly released Team Intelligence, and Founder of Influencers, the secret dining experience and private community of over 4000 industry leaders, including Nobel laureates, Olympians, celebrities, executives, royalty, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 1, 2025
Формування команди починається з чіткої відповіді про себе: хто ти такий яких людей підбираєш під тебе, а не під якусь вигадану структуру - під яку потім сам не зможеш підлаштуватися. 2-й критерій: кого б ти не підібрав - все одно це будуть індивідуальності, люди - зі своїми слабкими сильними сторонами. І ти маєш тут трохи егоїстично підійти з метою максимально використати цих людей так, щоб вони були ефективними.
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December 27, 2025"Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius" by Jon Levy explores why many highly talented teams still fail, while others with fewer stars manage to achieve extraordinary results. The book opens by challenging the common belief that success comes from hiring the smartest individuals, pointing instead to the importance of how people work together. High-profile failures like Quibi and Google Glass demonstrate that experience, funding, and elite talent mean little if a team lacks the ability to communicate, coordinate, and think collectively. Levy introduces the idea of team intelligence as a distinct capability - one rooted in interaction, trust, and alignment rather than individual brilliance.
At its core, team intelligence is about connection. Humans have always thrived by cooperating in large groups, and this evolutionary advantage still applies in modern organizations. Teams that function as networks, rather than rigid hierarchies, allow information to flow freely between members instead of bottlenecking through a single leader. When people are encouraged to connect directly, the number of meaningful relationships multiplies, creating faster learning, better decision-making, and greater resilience. Trust is what makes this possible. Without it, people withhold information, avoid risks, and rely on constant oversight. With it, they coordinate naturally and adapt quickly.
Trust is not built through authority alone but through shared ownership and vulnerability. When people contribute meaningfully to a project, they feel invested in its success and in one another. Leaders who admit uncertainty or mistakes model the kind of openness that invites others to do the same. This exchange of vulnerability creates psychological safety, allowing teams to surface problems early, learn from failure, and improve together. Rather than weakening leadership, this openness strengthens it by fostering honesty and collaboration.
Levy also challenges the assumption that more talent always leads to better outcomes. Research shows that teams overloaded with top performers can actually perform worse, especially when tasks require coordination. Too many high-status individuals can increase competition, reduce cooperation, and undermine shared goals. What truly predicts success is task interdependence - the extent to which team members rely on one another. High-performing teams prioritize collaboration over individual recognition, even when that means sacrificing personal credit.
This is where so-called 'glue players' become essential. These are individuals who may not stand out for flashy achievements but consistently support others, resolve conflicts, and keep the team functioning smoothly. Like role players in sports or cooperative members in successful animal groups, they elevate collective performance by enabling others to shine. Teams that reward only visible achievements risk discouraging these critical behaviors. By recognizing and valuing collaboration, leaders can transform groups of individuals into cohesive units.
How teams interact matters as much as who is on them. Studies of group performance show that collective intelligence depends less on average IQ and more on communication patterns. Teams perform best when members participate roughly equally, show sensitivity to one another’s emotions, and create space for diverse voices. Dominance by a single person, even a leader, tends to suppress team intelligence. Sometimes, leaders improve outcomes by stepping back and allowing others to take initiative, encouraging shared ownership and distributed leadership.
Clarity of purpose is another key ingredient. Many teams struggle not because they lack skill, but because they lack a shared understanding of what they are trying to achieve. Levy emphasizes the importance of a clear mission that guides decisions even when plans change. Leaders must communicate this purpose repeatedly and consistently, embedding it into everyday conversations. When people understand how their work connects to a larger goal - and even to their personal values - they are more motivated and better able to act independently without losing alignment.
Focus plays a critical role in sustaining team intelligence. Teams can easily become overwhelmed by constant communication, excessive meetings, and competing priorities. Rather than collaborating continuously, effective teams alternate between intense periods of coordination and longer stretches of uninterrupted individual work. This 'bursty' communication preserves attention and energy while still maintaining alignment. Organizations that reduce unnecessary meetings, limit distractions, and protect deep work create conditions where teams can think more clearly and perform at a higher level.
Clear roles and complementary skills further strengthen collective performance. Teams succeed when each member brings distinct expertise and understands their specific responsibility. Specialization allows groups to tackle complex challenges that no single person could manage alone. Beyond skill diversity, demographic and experiential diversity also enhances team intelligence by introducing different perspectives and reducing blind spots. When people with varied backgrounds collaborate in an environment of trust, the group becomes more creative and better at problem-solving.
No discussion of teams is complete without addressing difficult personalities. Toxic behavior can damage trust and undermine collaboration, yet some high-performing individuals exhibit traits that are challenging to manage. Levy argues that the solution is not always removal but balance. By surrounding abrasive or domineering individuals with collaborative, socially skilled teammates, leaders can buffer negative effects while still benefiting from their strengths. Teams with strong social foundations are more resilient and better equipped to handle friction without letting it spiral into dysfunction.
Ultimately, "Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius" reframes leadership as the art of designing environments where people can think and act together effectively. Success is not about finding perfect individuals, but about cultivating trust, clarity, focus, and balance within a group. When leaders prioritize connection over control, collaboration over competition, and alignment over ego, teams unlock a form of intelligence greater than the sum of their parts. The book concludes with a clear message: collective genius is not accidental - it is built intentionally, through the way teams are structured, supported, and led.
At its core, team intelligence is about connection. Humans have always thrived by cooperating in large groups, and this evolutionary advantage still applies in modern organizations. Teams that function as networks, rather than rigid hierarchies, allow information to flow freely between members instead of bottlenecking through a single leader. When people are encouraged to connect directly, the number of meaningful relationships multiplies, creating faster learning, better decision-making, and greater resilience. Trust is what makes this possible. Without it, people withhold information, avoid risks, and rely on constant oversight. With it, they coordinate naturally and adapt quickly.
Trust is not built through authority alone but through shared ownership and vulnerability. When people contribute meaningfully to a project, they feel invested in its success and in one another. Leaders who admit uncertainty or mistakes model the kind of openness that invites others to do the same. This exchange of vulnerability creates psychological safety, allowing teams to surface problems early, learn from failure, and improve together. Rather than weakening leadership, this openness strengthens it by fostering honesty and collaboration.
Levy also challenges the assumption that more talent always leads to better outcomes. Research shows that teams overloaded with top performers can actually perform worse, especially when tasks require coordination. Too many high-status individuals can increase competition, reduce cooperation, and undermine shared goals. What truly predicts success is task interdependence - the extent to which team members rely on one another. High-performing teams prioritize collaboration over individual recognition, even when that means sacrificing personal credit.
This is where so-called 'glue players' become essential. These are individuals who may not stand out for flashy achievements but consistently support others, resolve conflicts, and keep the team functioning smoothly. Like role players in sports or cooperative members in successful animal groups, they elevate collective performance by enabling others to shine. Teams that reward only visible achievements risk discouraging these critical behaviors. By recognizing and valuing collaboration, leaders can transform groups of individuals into cohesive units.
How teams interact matters as much as who is on them. Studies of group performance show that collective intelligence depends less on average IQ and more on communication patterns. Teams perform best when members participate roughly equally, show sensitivity to one another’s emotions, and create space for diverse voices. Dominance by a single person, even a leader, tends to suppress team intelligence. Sometimes, leaders improve outcomes by stepping back and allowing others to take initiative, encouraging shared ownership and distributed leadership.
Clarity of purpose is another key ingredient. Many teams struggle not because they lack skill, but because they lack a shared understanding of what they are trying to achieve. Levy emphasizes the importance of a clear mission that guides decisions even when plans change. Leaders must communicate this purpose repeatedly and consistently, embedding it into everyday conversations. When people understand how their work connects to a larger goal - and even to their personal values - they are more motivated and better able to act independently without losing alignment.
Focus plays a critical role in sustaining team intelligence. Teams can easily become overwhelmed by constant communication, excessive meetings, and competing priorities. Rather than collaborating continuously, effective teams alternate between intense periods of coordination and longer stretches of uninterrupted individual work. This 'bursty' communication preserves attention and energy while still maintaining alignment. Organizations that reduce unnecessary meetings, limit distractions, and protect deep work create conditions where teams can think more clearly and perform at a higher level.
Clear roles and complementary skills further strengthen collective performance. Teams succeed when each member brings distinct expertise and understands their specific responsibility. Specialization allows groups to tackle complex challenges that no single person could manage alone. Beyond skill diversity, demographic and experiential diversity also enhances team intelligence by introducing different perspectives and reducing blind spots. When people with varied backgrounds collaborate in an environment of trust, the group becomes more creative and better at problem-solving.
No discussion of teams is complete without addressing difficult personalities. Toxic behavior can damage trust and undermine collaboration, yet some high-performing individuals exhibit traits that are challenging to manage. Levy argues that the solution is not always removal but balance. By surrounding abrasive or domineering individuals with collaborative, socially skilled teammates, leaders can buffer negative effects while still benefiting from their strengths. Teams with strong social foundations are more resilient and better equipped to handle friction without letting it spiral into dysfunction.
Ultimately, "Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius" reframes leadership as the art of designing environments where people can think and act together effectively. Success is not about finding perfect individuals, but about cultivating trust, clarity, focus, and balance within a group. When leaders prioritize connection over control, collaboration over competition, and alignment over ego, teams unlock a form of intelligence greater than the sum of their parts. The book concludes with a clear message: collective genius is not accidental - it is built intentionally, through the way teams are structured, supported, and led.
October 9, 2025
Very interesting read. I definitely notice some issues at my work that were mentioned in this book.
October 21, 2025
Team Intelligence is an insightful read. Using clear language, and a bit of humor, Jon Levy dismantles outdated corporate leadership myths and counter balances that with evidence from top-performing teams. Jon outlines a compelling strategy for building high-performance teams and offers practical steps and tools needed for success. The book is packed with wealth of insights, and is engaging and easy to follow.
November 19, 2025
Jon does a great job of pointing out how all members of teams can contribute and the role that each person plays in big-picture success. The team leader is responsible for developing and communicating a team’s mission and goals, but more importantly for bringing together a group of people who can actually get it done and giving them space and trust to use their skills.
Great read!
Great read!
November 19, 2025
As an avid reader and business owner, I am always on the hunt for great training material, but it has to resonate with me quickly. Team Intelligence checked all the boxes. Jon, your writing style infused just the right ratio of research, practical application, and humor. I’ll be recommending this book for sure.
October 18, 2025
Book is fantastic. I am not a huge fan of leadership books, but Jon is extremely clear and pragmatic! I was fortunate enough to host Jon for a speaking event - he was extremely impactful and built on the key lessons from the book. Can't say enough positive things about the book and Jon!
October 20, 2025
Nobody can succeed alone
The most important leadership skill is understanding that people must follow you if you want to be effective. This book gets to the heart of what it takes to manifest a truly effective team.
The most important leadership skill is understanding that people must follow you if you want to be effective. This book gets to the heart of what it takes to manifest a truly effective team.
October 10, 2025
This is absolutely essential reading for any leader, CEO or manager. It serves as a roadmap for team building and that is universally applicable and a true competitive advantage.
December 4, 2025
Shares some great philosophies of how team leadership should be. I just felt like some examples and stories were dragged on longer than necessary
December 23, 2025
There were some case studies of people and businesses that were negative and changed the tone of the book, other than those, there were a lot of good takeaways.
January 1, 2026
After reading You’re Invited, this book replayed much of the themes from that book. It was okay and I was eager to read this book before meeting Jon at a company event. Quick and easy read.
January 16, 2026
Had some good points; a little too chatty for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews