In a 2014 study at MIT, researchers sought to identify the key factors influencing the performance of a work team. They evaluated the skills of each team member, as well as their personalities, levels of interaction, and the social bonds between them. The results revealed that these social bonds are the fundamental factor for a team to perform well (Demontjoye, 2014).

The MIT study highlights the importance of social bonds as a critical determinant of team performance. While traditional measures of team success often focus on the technical skills, intelligence, or personality traits of individual members, this research sheds light on how interpersonal relationships and communication patterns can make or break a team’s effectiveness.

The concept of social bonds refers to the informal relationships and trust that develop between team members. Strong social bonds foster a sense of belonging, mutual respect, and support, creating an environment conducive to open communication and collaboration. Teams with solid interpersonal connections tend to handle conflicts better, share knowledge more freely, and work toward common goals more effectively.

This finding challenges the idea that assembling the most skilled individuals automatically leads to a high-performing team. Instead, it suggests that fostering strong, cohesive relationships between team members may be more critical to success. These relationships enable smoother collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and promote a greater sense of shared responsibility.

Source : De Montjoye, Y.-A., (2014)