Is it possible for a team made up of people with a diverse set of IT, marketing, sales, and other skills to guarantee the team’s success in every project? In his book We’re All in This Together: Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, and Belonging, Mike Robbins poses this question.

I wasn’t expecting this question when reading this book, but it was interesting to think about it. Yes, the team may benefit greatly from having talented members with a variety of experiences, but is it enough?

I would like to share my thoughts on the title before I begin my analysis of the book. For me, establishing a productive environment where teammates have a clear sense of direction and are in line with the team’s basic values is the first step towards developing a high-performing team because it gives them the motivation to achieve and surpass their objectives and be productive.

The effect of vulnerability on the individual and the team is one of the key ideas that Robins brought up in his book. Being vulnerable is not necessarily a negative point, on the contrary. Vulnerability, as defined by Brené Brown, is:

“The courage to show your true self to others, to share your fears, your desires, and your imperfections.”

Being vulnerable with your team members represents a human connection catalyst. This contributes to the development of an atmosphere where team members can express their opinions and worries without fear of judgment or reprisal.

The significance of trust and how it complements vulnerability is the second point this book explains. In fact, one cannot exist without the other. The ability to create a sense of psychological security through trust is a prerequisite for moving toward true vulnerability.

Now, I would like to talk about psychological safety, I already mentioned it in one of my previous essays about building a multicultural team. Though it comes up frequently, I don’t think the book goes into enough detail about psychology safety despite its importance when collaborating as a team. Encouraging someone to feel safe takes a lot of effort, tolerance as well as the contribution of all team members. When the feeling of security is present, the team members are finally able to communicate openly about their genuine emotions and expose their vulnerability. Psychological safety and vulnerability work together to improve a team’s capacity for constructive conflict resolution because members can discuss problems honestly and cooperatively. Additionally, this setting stimulates a more harmonious and effective team dynamic by allowing for a greater balance between empathy and high expectations, where ambitious goals are pursued with compassion and understanding.