Jon Levy sees leadership as the art of amplifying group intelligence. He thoroughly busts the myth of the “heroic leader,” making a clear case that great leaders don’t succeed through charisma but by building cultures of strong collaboration.

Individual intelligence matters, he says, but thriving organizations depend on “team IQ”—how well people listen, trust, and coordinate. The best leaders make their teams smarter, not louder.

After fifteen years of research with Nobel laureates, astronauts, CEOs, and military officers, Levy found that thriving organizations share three essentials. First, people must feel safe to take risks, disagree, and admit mistakes without fear. This openness fuels creativity and learning. Second, a sense of belonging matters; when people feel included and valued, they bring more energy to their work and recover faster from setbacks. Finally, trust and steady feedback keep teams aligned and respectful, allowing them to grow together rather than drift apart.

Levy shows how small habits—interruptions, tone, or reactions to criticism—can strengthen or weaken group performance. He urges leaders to model openness, reward cooperation, use stories to clarify purpose, and support “glue players,” those who lift others up.

I like his idea that we learn to see leadership as a social science rooted in trust, inclusion, and curiosity. A leader’s true measure, Levy concludes, is whether their presence makes the group better at solving problems together.

“When leaders share their doubts, ask questions, and admit they don’t have all the answers, the team gains permission to think critically and contribute freely. Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the spark of collective intelligence.”

“Trust grows when leaders treat effort, not outcome, as the signal of value. A culture that learns together learns faster.”

“Teams thrive on reciprocity. If leaders consistently reward collaboration, cooperation becomes the status move.”

BOOK: Team Intelligence. How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius

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