The Sorting Hat Problem: What Harry Potter Teaches Us About Teams

From Hogwarts to jazz clubs, discover how identity and structure shape the hidden power of collaboration.

---

🎉 We’re Turning 8! And Hitting 500 Episodes! 🎉

This year marks two big milestones for us: our 8th anniversary and the release of our 500th episode of Behavioral Grooves. To celebrate, we’re doing something special.

In the weeks leading up to our anniversary this October, we’re sharing our Top 8 episodes of all time as bonus releases. Yep — Top 8 for our 8th anniversary.

And that’s not all… we’re throwing a celebration party in Minneapolis, and you’re invited! 🎈 You’ll get to chat with other behavioral science enthusiasts, see a live episode of Behavioral Grooves, and meet our special guest — who, rumor has it, has some fun experiments planned just for our live audience.

Mark your calendars for October 16th in Minneapolis — and come celebrate with us in person! 🎉 Tickets are now available, so don’t wait: grab your spot here and join us for an evening of behavioral science, conversation, and celebration. We can’t wait to see you there!

This Week’s Music for Grooving

Check out some of the recommendations from this week’s episode

Miles Davis - So What

Miles Davis - Freddie the Freeloader

Steely Dan - Do It Again

What makes some groups thrive while others fall apart?

Colin Fisher, associate professor at University College London and author of The Collective Edge, joins Kurt and Tim to explore not just what makes groups succeed, but more importantly, why they so often go wrong. Drawing on decades of research—and his background as a professional jazz musician (much to Tim’s delight)—Colin unpacks the paradox of collaboration: the same dynamics that spark creativity and innovation can also fuel conformity and conflict.

From uncovering the real villain of the Harry Potter series (hint: it’s not you-know-who) to Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, Colin uses vivid metaphors to show how group identities shape our behaviors in ways we rarely notice. The real creative edge doesn’t come from lone geniuses, but from “real teams” working toward a shared goal. While most organizations fixate on process, Colin argues that structure—composition, goals, norms, and tasks—is the hidden engine that drives team effectiveness.

And of course, we couldn’t talk to a jazz musician without Tim steering the conversation toward music—and the parallels are surprisingly powerful. If we want to solve our toughest problems, we must learn to improvise, rethink how we form and nurture our groups, and lead with creativity. So grab your coffee (or tea) and tune in for a masterclass on understanding the invisible forces behind teamwork—and how to harness them for good.

Want to watch this episode? Check it out on our YouTube Channel

---

The Illusion of Teamwork

Research shows that teams often overestimate their effectiveness. While most individuals believe they are strong contributors, studies reveal a striking gap between perception and reality: less than 20% of teams actually operate at their full potential. This “illusion of teamwork” highlights that simply having goodwill or good intentions isn’t enough—clear structure, defined roles, and effective coordination are what truly drive high-performing teams. Without these, even the most motivated groups can fall short of their goals.

Why Most Teams Underperform

Think your team is performing at its best? Research by J. Richard Hackman shows that most teams fall short—not from lack of talent, but because they lack the right structure, clear goals, and shared norms. Click to learn what separates real, high-performing teams from the rest.

Housekeeping

If you want to know more about today’s guest or this week’s grooving, check out the links below!

Behavioral Grooves Special Live Podcast Event

About Colin

The Collective Edge by Colin Fisher

And don’t forget to join the conversation with us in our Facebook Groove Community