In our experiences in organizations large and small, having the trifecta of smart people, a trusting culture, and a guiding framework can amplify results significantly. What is common in high-performance teams is that they are cross-functional, collocated, and autonomous.

When groups are small, for example, everyone’s stake in the outcome of the group project is high. At a small biotech, if the drug works, everyone will be a hero and a millionaire. If it fails, everyone will be looking for a job. The perks of rank—job titles or the increase in salary from being promoted—are small compared to those high stakes. As te