Most teams waste three-quarters of their week
In Superteams, Ron Friedman explores what separates exceptional teams from average ones. Drawing on research, real-world examples, and the most comprehensive study of elite groups ever conducted, he reveals how the best teams free up time, avoid burnout, and achieve extraordinary results together.
Hi Ron Friedman, why did you write this book… now?
Ron Friedman: We spend over 70% of our work lives collaborating in teams, and most teams are doing so in ways that lengthen the workday and contribute to burnout.
If you’re on an average team, three-quarters of your week is eaten up by meetings and email before you’ve accomplished a single task.
Superteams is about what the best teams do differently to free up their time so they can get real work done during the day, without having it spill into evenings and weekends.
An extract from your book that best represents yourself?
R.F.: Not every meeting requires video. During the pandemic, video calls were instrumental in creating a sense of connection. Those days are long gone, yet the inclination to hop on Zoom or Teams for every meeting persists.
Video calls come with serious drawbacks—more fatigue, less creativity, heightened self-consciousness—many of which we’re only starting to grasp.
To protect your mental energy, save video calls for when they’re necessary (for example, when you need to screen share or are meeting someone for the first time). A quick phone call often yields better results.
What are the emerging trends you believe in the most?
R.F.:
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AI is widening the gap between Superteams and average teams.
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Average teams hide their AI usage from one another, while Superteams share prompts and insights so that everyone can get better together.
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Where a team works—hybrid, remote, or in-office—doesn’t matter as much as how a team works.
If you had to give one piece of advice to readers of this article, what would it be?
R.F.: Meetings are the number one time waster in people’s week.
Work together with your team to create simple rules for eliminating unnecessary meetings.
For example, on my team our rule is: “No decision, no meeting.” If you have an update, that’s an email. If you have a question, pick up the phone.
In a nutshell, what are the next topics that you will be passionate about?
R.F.: For now, I’m fascinated with what the best teams do differently, and how anyone can apply those insights to their teams—even if they’re not the one in charge.
That’s what my book, Superteams, is all about.
Thank you Ron Friedman
Thank you Bertrand Jouvenot