Recommended Resources
NOVEMBER 2011
1. Katzenbach & Smith. 2005. The Wisdom of Teams. Harvard Business Press.
The Wisdom of Teams is a classic, which accurately distinguishes between Groups, Teams and High Performance Teams. The concepts of Purpose, Goals and Approach are fundamental to the success of Teams and are well explained. The section on whether Teams are more effective than Groups at the senior management level is quite enlightening. The stories illustrate the concepts well, and bring the subject matter to life.
2. Maxwell, John. 2001. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team. Nashville, TN: Nelson.
John Maxwell is widely recognized as an expert on leadership. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork makes the assumption that we will participate in teams and therefore starts by asking: “will your involvement with others be successful?” Through the story of a young man who asks for the one thing he should know about teamwork, Maxwell insists that effective teamwork relies on a combination of factors. He identifies and describes seventeen key components. Each chapter is structured similarly: a law is explained, followed by exercises, and a link is given to additional resources available on-line. Practical and accessible.
3. Lencioni, Patrick. 2005. Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators. Jossey Bass.
In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni offers specific, practical guidance for overcoming the Five Dysfunctions that are common to teams —using tools, exercises, assessments, and real–world examples. He examines questions that all teams must ask themselves: Are we really a team? How are we currently performing? Are we prepared to invest the time and energy required to be a great team? Written concisely and to the point, this guide gives leaders, line managers, and consultants alike the tools they need to get their teams up and running quickly and effectively.
