Teams That Work: Seven Drivers of Team Effectiveness

High-performing teams don’t just happen—they’re built with intention, insight, and the right tools. In Teams That Work, Eduardo Salas and Scott Tannenbaum break it down: there are seven key drivers that determine a team’s success.  These include psychological safety, shared mental models, dependable teamwork, clarity, results-driven structure, cohesion, and supportive leadership.

The book busts common myths about teamwork and highlights that every team is different—meaning the way we build and support them has to be intentional and data-driven.

So, how do we assess and optimize these drivers? That’s where assessment tools like Predictive Index and Line-Of-Sight come in.

Predictive Index (PI) is a powerful talent optimization platform that blends behavioral and cognitive assessments, data analytics, and AI to help organizations create and sustain high-performing teams. But what if we took it a step further? By layering in The Line of Sight (LOS) framework, which focuses on strategic alignment, decision-making clarity, and goal setting, we can take team optimization to new heights. Let’s explore how these tools work together to amplify team effectiveness.

Psychological Safety: Creating a Space for Open Dialogue

Great teams thrive when people feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and take risks. PI assesses communication patterns and trust levels through behavioral analytics and employee sentiment surveys. Leaders can use these insights to close gaps, foster inclusivity, and build an environment where every voice matters.

Shared Mental Models: Getting on the Same Page

When teams align on goals, processes, and expectations, they move faster and collaborate better. The Line of Sight framework sharpens this by ensuring every team member understands how their role contributes to the big picture—so everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Dependable Teamwork: Building Trust & Accountability

Trust isn’t just about believing in each other—it’s about showing up consistently. PI helps measure accountability, work ethic, and collaboration tendencies, ensuring teams are built with complementary strengths. When combined with The Line of Sight assessment, we can measure just how dependable the team is.

Clarity: No More Guesswork on Roles & Responsibilities

Ambiguity kills productivity. PI’s job assessment tools ensure that roles are clearly defined and that people are matched to work that aligns with their strengths. LOS takes this one step further, linking those well-defined roles to the company’s broader strategic objectives, eliminating confusion, and driving engagement.

Results-Driven Structure: Aligning Performance with Purpose

Successful teams focus on outcomes, adapt quickly, and track progress. PI provides the data needed to analyze work styles and objectives to make sure the right people are in the right seats, but this is where The Line of Sight framework really shines. Structure and alignment can be measured and is a key success factor in the LOS model.

Cohesion: Strengthening Relationships for Seamless Collaboration

Cohesion isn’t just about “getting along”—it’s about synergy. PI identifies personality dynamics, helping leaders navigate potential friction points and maximize collaboration.

Supportive Leadership: Empowering Managers to Lead with Purpose

Great leadership is the backbone of great teams. PI’s leadership assessments provide insights into management styles and growth areas, helping leaders show up in a way that resonates with their teams. Meanwhile, LOS ensures leadership isn’t just about inspiration—it’s about strategic alignment, clear decision-making, and ensuring that every team member understands their impact.