Busting the Myth of Genius: Why Diverse, Heterogeneous Teams Outperform Lone Experts

Israel’s unlikely recipe for high-level collaboration was forged out of necessity: immigrants from nearly seventy different nationalities thrown together in schools, military units, and workplaces. From early on, Jewish refugees from Iraq, Ethiopia, Poland, and elsewhere were often paired as teammates for high-stakes challenges, with no shared language or academic history. Many expected mishaps or slowdowns, but the results shattered assumptions. Diversity wasn’t a weakness—it helped teams improvise, adapt, and innovate under pressure.

Research from global organizations confirms this: heterogeneous teams, when managed with trust and good communication, generate more creative solutions and are better at navigating turbulence than homogeneous groups of 'geniuses.' In Israel, national service brings together a cross-section of society, forging bonds and networks that cut across social boundaries and build a shared commitment to performance over pedigree.

Importantly, the best-performing teams don't just tolerate difference—they invite it and use it as a source of questioning and creative tension. What at first feels like chaos soon becomes a source of resilience. This isn't about eliminating friction—it's about turning friction into fuel for growth.

Open your circle wider this month. Start by honestly listing your go-to advisors and noting whether they're a lot like you or bring challenging difference. Reach out—maybe it’s a peer you rarely talk to, a neighbor from another country, or someone in a different field. Share your latest problem or project and invite them to push back or offer a new perspective, then give their contribution real consideration. Pay attention to what surprises you, and keep track of unexpected breakthroughs or better questions that arise. Make this a ritual—let outsiders in to level up your collective thinking.