Hey there 👋

Google spent two years and millions of dollars trying to build the perfect team. They called it Project Aristotle.

They assumed it was about assembling the smartest people—the best credentials, the most experience, the most drive. Dream team assembled, right?

They were dead wrong.

What they found: who is on the team matters far less than how the team works together. The #1 factor? Not motivation. Not talent. Psychological safety—whether people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and admit mistakes without fear.

It turns out teams don't need a leader who fires them up. They need a leader who clears the path.

This issue is about that gap—between what leaders think teams want and what teams actually need.

— Steve

P.S. Hit reply and tell me: what's one thing your team actually needs from you right now that has nothing to do with motivation?

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