The Secret Ingredient of High-Performing Teams | Vanessa Druskat

Emotional intelligence in individuals is often celebrated in the business world — but what if the real unlock isn’t a smarter leader, but a smarter team? This week, we’re joined by Vanessa Druskat, professor at the University of New Hampshire and author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team, whose research challenges decades of leadership development norms. Emotional Intelligence (EI), she argues, isn’t something you simply possess — it’s something you create collectively through shared habits and routines.

Vanessa walks us through her nine core team norms that build trust, psychological safety, strategic collaboration, and ultimately, performance. We dig into the anatomy of team behavior and how small routines — the way we listen, include others, surface dissent, or recognize good work — can either accelerate progress or quietly derail it. She shares why one low-empathy member can ruin the emotional climate for everyone (spoiler: it’s costly), and why leaders should stop polishing individuals and instead design environments where healthy interactions become the default.

We also explore optimism as a practical leadership tool — not fluffy positivity, but intentional hope that makes change easier and more sustainable. People are more receptive to growth when they move toward a motivating future, not away from a problem. Whether you lead a team or sit inside one, this conversation is packed with strategies you can start using right away — and who knows, it might even inspire you to appoint your own “Ambassador of Optimism.”

Want to watch this episode? Check it out on our YouTube Channel