Creating Teams With an Edge

by Luecke, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781591392903
• ISBN10: 159139290X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Pr

Summary

Teams are the driving force behind strong organizational performance -- and managers can play a key role in a team's ultimate success or failure. How prepared are you to organize and lead team-based work? Are you familiar with the characteristics of a successful team? Packed with the advice you need to be more effective as a team sponsor, leader, or member, this book will give you a complete overview of the skills and capabilities you need to excel. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
What's Ahead	xiv
Team Concepts	1	(12)
Understand These First
Why Teams?	5	(2)
Do You Really Need a Team?	7	(1)
Benefits and Costs	7	(1)
Making the ``Team Versus No-Team'' Decision	8	(2)
Summing Up	10	(3)
Essentials for an Effective Team	13	(12)
The Foundation of Success
Competence	14	(1)
A Clear, Common Goal---With Performance Metrics	15	(2)
Commitment to a Common Goal	17	(3)
Every Member Contributes---Every Member Benefits	20	(1)
A Supportive Environment	21	(1)
Alignment	22	(2)
Summing Up	24	(1)
Forming the Team	25	(20)
The Crew and Its Charter
Team Sponsor	27	(2)
Team Leader	29	(2)
Team Members	31	(8)
Facilitator	39	(1)
The Team Charter	39	(3)
Aligning Behavior Through Rewards	42	(1)
Summing Up	43	(2)
Getting Off on the Right Foot	45	(22)
Important First Steps
Host a Launch Meeting	46	(3)
Decide About Decisions	49	(3)
Plan and Schedule the Work	52	(4)
Define the Measures of Success	56	(1)
Develop a Budget	57	(1)
Create Integrating Mechanisms	58	(4)
Establish Norms of Behavior	62	(2)
Summing Up	64	(3)
Team Management Challenges	67	(24)
Where Leaders Matter
The Leaders Role	68	(8)
Encouraging Team Identity	76	(4)
Guarding Against Groupthink	80	(2)
Managing Team Creativity	82	(4)
Managing Conflict	86	(3)
Summing Up	89	(2)
Operating As a Team	91	(16)
Putting Ideas to Work
Keeping an Eye on Team Processes	92	(6)
Winning One Bite at a Time	98	(2)
Supporting Team Learning	100	(3)
Evaluating Performance	103	(3)
Summing Up	106	(1)
The Virtual Team	107	(20)
A Collaborative Challenge
Benefits and Challenges	108	(1)
Virtual Team Technology	109	(8)
Managing the Virtual Team	117	(5)
Coaching the Team You Can't See	122	(2)
Summing Up	124	(3)
Becoming a Team Player	127	(12)
Your Most Important Assignment
Be Open to New Ideas	129	(1)
Be Open to Different Ways of Working	130	(1)
Share What You Have	131	(1)
Seek Alternatives	132	(1)
Develop Working Relationships with People from Different Functions	133	(1)
Look for Win-Win Solutions	134	(1)
Only Join Teams Whose Goals You Value Highly	135	(1)
Be a Reliable Teammate	135	(1)
Be Results-Oriented	136	(1)
Summing Up	137	(2)
Appendix A: Useful Implementation Tools	139	(6)
Appendix B: A Guide to Effective Coaching	145	(8)
Appendix C: Team Troubleshooting Guide	153	(2)
Notes	155	(4)
Glossary	159	(2)
For Further Reading	161	(4)
Index	165	(6)
About the Subject Adviser	171	(1)
About the Writer	172