The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups

We live in an age of unprecedented individualism. We seek individualistic solutions to our problems, but we can rarely explain failures and successes by looking at one person’s actions, or fix things entirely on our own. Our lives are shaped by groups as wide-ranging as work teams, friends and families, nationalities and religions, and 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.

In his revelatory book, Dr Colin Fisher, a foremost expert on group dynamics, demonstrates how to harness the amazing power of groups to achieve great things under the right conditions. Fisher skilfully weaves together the latest science with vivid storytelling. He demonstrates how to build happy groups that cooperate effectively, how to harness the motivating power of competition without getting embroiled in conflict and avoid the pitfalls of conformity.
 
The Collective Edge is a ground-breaking book that will transform your understanding of human behaviour. Whether you want to change yourself, your team, or the world, you need to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics, rather than being unwittingly pushed around by them. By doing so you can learn to make better decisions, form happier groups that are more than the sum of their parts, and improve the quality of your interactions with others – forever changing how you live and work for the better.

Review

‘Fisher explores different types of groups, whether sports teams or scientists, showing that identifying a clear purpose and defined outcomes is key . . . he makes the case for the importance of competition within a collective environment, and warns against the dark heart that can lie within unquestioning conformity. The book is rounded out with a section on leadership and how to put collective perspective into action . . . Fisher’s irreverent writing approach and pop culture references make the topic palatable, and enjoyable’ ― Financial Times, Business Books of the Month

‘The book is an essential guide for anyone who’s tried and failed to work out why some groups capture elusive energy, and some are so dysfunctional . . . Fisher is an engaging writer . . . if you’re thinking of moving into a leadership role, or wondering how you’re going to get your family to knuckle down to chores – or indeed you have your eye on being in the next series of Traitors – then this could well be your go-to’ ― Mail on Sunday

‘If you’ve ever wondered why some groups spark brilliance while others remain stuck in mediocrity, this book has your answer. Fisher has distilled decades of research into a practical, eye-opening guide to making teams more than the sum of their individual parts. The Collective Edge is essential reading for creators, builders and leaders’

-- Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Drive and The Power of Regret

‘Captivating, evidence-based, and packed with insights to help you boost the performance of every group and team you value, The Collective Edge is a must-read. Collaboration has never mattered more, and Fisher offers a phenomenal, science-backed guide to how groups really work – and how to make yours thrive’
-- Katy Milkman, author of How to Change and host of the podcast Choiceology

‘A thought-provoking read about how a group becomes more than the sum of its parts. Colin Fisher has done a deep dive into the dynamics of successful teams, and in this book he shares his most illuminating and useful discoveries’

-- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking

‘A winner. Every important finding from a century of research on groups can be found in its thoroughly enjoyable pages. The Collective Edge is a must-read for anyone who wants to unravel the mysteries of human groups’ -- Amy C. Edmondson, Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School, and author of The Fearless Organization and Right Kind of Wrong



‘Brilliant, grounded, and full of aha moments, The Collective Edge is the new standard for understanding group behaviour. This is a vibrant, research-rich dive into what makes teams flourish. A must-read for team leaders and collaborators alike’

-- Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets and Quit