Managing Teams

by Harvard Business School Press

• ISBN13: 9781422129746
• ISBN10: 1422129748
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-01
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Pr

Summary

Leading teams is an essential skill every manager must possess. To do it effectively, you must know how to instill commitment in your team, improve communication among group members, and diagnose common problems that can derail a team. In this book, you'll find valuable advice and proven strategies for managing teams, including how to: Diagnose common problems that can impede team progress Take corrective measures to remove team problems and improve performance Resolve team conflicts Promote interdependence within teams

Table of Contents

Keeping Your Team on Track

An overview of the challenges team leaders must surmount

Evaluating the team's process

Understanding common obstacles

Lack of Team Identity

A closer look at a vital ingredient in team success

Appreciating why team identity is crucial

Understanding causes of weak team identity

Strengthening team identity

Ineffective Decision Making

Tips for combating an all-too-common problem

Agreeing on a decision-making approach

Sharpening decision-making skills

Poor Communication

Ideas for examining one of your processes

Understanding the costs of poor communication

Enhancing team members' communication skills

Destructive Conflict

Suggestions for turning unproductive disagreements into productive ones

Defining the root cause of the conflict

Negotiating a resolution

Encouraging active listening

Reminding team members to forgive

Low Participation

Advice for ensuring that everyone takes part in the team

Detecting low participation

Confirming expectations about participation

Enabling members to meet expectations

Asking for explanations

Assessing member/task fit

Absence of Creativity

Recommendations for catalyzing creativity

Promoting diversity of thinking styles and technical skills

Balancing paradoxical characteristics

Moving from divergent to convergent thinking

"Groupthink"

Ideas for preventing this dangerous mindset

Understanding the dangers of groupthink

Recognizing the symptoms

Combating groupthink

Ineffective Team Leadership

Strategies for tackling this troubling condition

Recognizing the signs of poor leadership

Identifying the root causes

Balancing bossing with empowering

Taking action when you're not the leader

Tips and Tools

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