Pentland meticulously laid out five distinct traits that top performing teams all have in common. Everyone on the team talks and listens in roughly equal measure, keeping contributions short and sweet. Members face one another, and their conversations and gestures are energetic. Members connect directly with one another—not just with the team leader. Members carry on back-channel or side conversations within the team. Members periodically break, go exploring outside the team, and bring information back.6
