Rather than rushing to fill every gap in a meeting, effective leaders know that pausing at the right moment can surface valuable insights that might otherwise go unheard.

We all work in groups sometimes. We brainstorm in groups. Students work on group projects. Even faculty at universities work in committees, and our research projects are generally collaborations.

Trying to persuade people to abandon deeply held views often backfires, leaving groups entrenched and unable to move forward.

OK, group decicion-making may not be the most momentous problem, but it is one of the most frequently annoying. Making everyday choices with other people often goes something like this: You and your ...