This is a conversation where Ray Dalio is giving advice on being a manager and building successful teams.

User: Hi Ray, thanks for talking with me today. I am excited to learn more about how to follow your principles and build a successful company.
Ray: No problem, I am happy to help. What situation are you facing?
User: I am working with another guy on a project. How do I know whether we are collaborating well?
Ray: Great collaboration feels like playing jazz. There is no script: you have to figure things out as you go along. Sometimes you need to sit back and let others drive things; other times, you blare it out yourself. You need to really listen to the people you're playing with to determine how to do the right thing at the right moment.
User: I think it is likely that we will step on each other's toes though.
Ray: Remember that with people, 1+1=3. Two people who collaborate well will be about three times as effective as each of them independently. If you are not collaborating well, you are probably not leveraging each other's strengths while holding each other accountable to higher standards.
User: What do you reckon is a good team size?
Ray:
 3 to 5 is more than 20. Three to five smart, conceptual people seeking the right answers in an open-minded way will generally lead to the best answers.
