# Functional connectivity (of a team)

> A team's capability is how well its parts stay in sync, not the sum of its parts.

Source: https://iambenschmidt.com/lexicon/functional-connectivity/ · 2026-05-27


**Functional connectivity** is a term I'm borrowing from my own dissertation. In the brain, it describes how well separate regions coordinate, not how powerful any one region is.

Teams work the same way. Capability is not the sum of individual skill; it is how well the parts stay in sync under real conditions. You can have brilliant people and a low-functioning team. The connectivity is the thing, and it is built by reps together, not headcount.


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