The Daily Stat: Having Too Many Stars Can Hurt a Team

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JUNE 27, 2011 Having Too Many Stars Can Hurt a Team Teams with lots of high-status performers can be more effective than other groups—but only up to a point. In a study by Boris Groysberg and Jeffrey T. Polzer of Harvard Business School and Hillary Anger Elfenbein of Washington University, effectiveness of teams of Wall Street researchers was at its maximum when 65.1% of the analysts were "stars." Beyond that, the effectiveness (as rated by clients) dropped off. The authors say group members' attempts to boost their status may disrupt such vital processes as information sharing. Source: Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth: How High-Status Individuals Decrease Group Effectiveness Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT Team Leadership: Harvard ManageMentor Online Module Harvard ManageMentor Learn how to establish a team with the right mix of skills and personalities and create a culture that promotes collaborative work. Covers steps to leading an effective team and includes innovative, easy-to-implement self-evaluation tools. One-year single user license. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Lack of Sleep Leads to Unethical Conduct Nearly 1 in 10 Employees Bring Work Home Anxiety Makes You a Worse Negotiator It Tastes Good Because It's My Favorite Brand American Students More Prone to Boredom U.S. Dads More Open to Staying Home with Kids Business Students Score Higher on Narcissism There's More to Leadership Than Genes Ministers Get Pay for Performance Too Charter Schools Give Students a Boost Free HBR Interactive issue Download the iPad app HBR Reads, and get your issue with audio and video interviews and multimedia slideshows. Learn more » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2011 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)