The Wisdom of Teams

In this summary you will learn

• Why teams matter
• What you need to do to create high-performance teams
• How great teams succeed and how lesser ones go astray

getAbstract rating

Why you should read The Wisdom of Teams

What’s nice about Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith’s book is their willingness to name the truth. They know that everyone pays lip service to teams, but few people act like they truly value teams - and fewer still actually know how teams really work. The authors point out where the hype lies and what it is hiding. Then they go a step farther. They provide a manual for creating what executives say they want: high-performance teams. They illustrate their suggestions, insights and guidelines with a lot of stories of real-world teams, focusing on what makes them work. Their rules are so clear that they leave little room for protecting any cherished illusions. As a result, getAbstract finds that those readers who are willing to act upon the book’s counsel will get the most from it. If you’re seriously interested in diagnosing nonperforming teams and creating ones that perform, you’ll enjoy this book. And, if you think you’re already doing everything right, but your team mysteriously just isn’t working...this may solve the puzzle.

About the Authors

Jon R. Katzenbach is a senior partner at an international consulting firm specializing in teams, leadership and performance. Douglas K. Smith is a management consultant and author of five books, including Make Success Measurable.