Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently

by Don Yaeger

What makes a team great? Not just good and not just functional—but great ? Over six years, long-time Sports Illustrated editor Don Yaeger was invited by some of the greatest companies in the world to speak about the habits of high-performing individuals. From Microsoft and Starbucks to the New England Patriots and San Antonio Spurs, what do some organizations do seemingly better than most of their opponents? Don took the challenge. He began building into his travel schedule opportunities to interview our generation’s greatest team builders from the sports and business worlds. During this process, he conducted more than 100 interviews with some of the most successful teams and organizations in the country. From those interviews, Don identified 16 habits that drive these high-performing teams. Building on the stories, examples, and first-hand accounts, each chapter in Great Teams comes with applicable examples on how to apply these characteristics in any organization. Great Teams Great Teams is the ultimate intersection of the sports and business worlds and a powerful companion for thought leaders, teams, managers, and organizations that seek to perform similarly. The insight shared in this book is sure to enhance any team in its pursuit of excellence.

Genres: Business, Leadership, Nonfiction, Self Help, Management, Audiobook, Ebooks

272 pages, Hardcover

Published July 19, 2016

About the author

Don Yaeger is an acclaimed American author, journalist, and keynote speaker based in Tallahassee, Florida. A graduate of Ball State University, he began his journalism career at The San Antonio Light and The Dallas Morning News before joining Sports Illustrated as Associate Editor. He has authored or co-authored 30 books, including 12 New York Times best-sellers. Yaeger collaborated with sports legends such as Walter Payton, John Wooden, Michael Oher, and Bubba Watson, as well as political figures like Brian Kilmeade on historical bestsellers. He hosts the Corporate Competitor Podcast.

Reviews

[Faisal Alarifi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read for any American sport lover. It does a really good job in connecting stories from the business world to the world of sports.

The principles highlighted in the book are simple to understand, though explained brilliantly. I have definitely enjoyed this read and would recommend it. However, if you are not a fan of baseball/basketball/American football (Which I think applies to most of the world), I would not recommend.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book with lots of good ideas on how teams work, and how you can enable them to work better. The only issue I have is that the sports examples are way too many, as a non American it was sometimes hard to follow and or down right boring.

Having more business examples would improve the readability for me.

[Bill Yeadon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not as good as I had hoped. It was similar to seeing excellent previews of a new movie and then realizing those were the best parts of the movie.

I learned some interesting tidbits about sports, but not much else. Maybe on my second listening I will have a different opinion.

[Josh Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good insights into interesting teams, way more about sports teams though and no data to confirm the anecdotal interview based research that went into the book. For example, if each of these teams were so amazing - why don't their records reflect it? They can't all be the best because of some team attribute if they're not all winning as a result.

[Edwin Carcano Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Great Teams” es un excelente libro acerca de cómo trabajar en equipo. El autor es Don Yaeger. Lo mejor de esta obra es que los conceptos son tomados de equipos deportivos exitosos y aplicados a las mejores empresas del mundo. De verdad que vale la pena leer este libro.

[Toby Dean Bidlack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information

Excellent advice from the top teams and organizations on what it takes to be successful. Not only advice on becoming a champion but working to stay on top.

[Matthew Cathcart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book

Excellent book on team dynamics and the characteristics of great teams. A good book for anyone who leads teams. Well written and cited.

[Matt Busche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read, but very basic and introductory.

[Riti · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://itchingtoread.blogspot.com/20...

good insights need more real life business insights

[Cesar A. Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para construir grandes equipos en las organizaciones muchas veces utilizamos a ejércitos y/o a equipos deportivos para poder hacer la analogía del tipo de liderazgo que debemos crear en nuestra organización. Don Yaeger hace un análisis sumamente interesante y entretenido de los equipos más exitosos en diferentes deportes y categorías (NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA, etc.) dentro de EEUUA.
Don utiliza 16 pilares que él ha detectado en los mejores equipos y con esto crea cada uno de sus capítulos. Comenzando con un o dos historias de equipos deportivos que tuvieron algún problema y que a través de un liderazgo que se enfocó en la característica del capítulo pudo llevar al equipo a ser campeón. Posteriormente nos relata como esta característica también la han utilizado grandes empresas y como los llevo a salir a ser exitosos en su medio.

Las historias que nos cuentan en el libro son sumamente interesantes y en muchos casos poco conocidas de como grandes equipos pudieron
1. Propósito. Debe de ser un objetivo claro en el que todos se puedan ver comprometidos
2. Gerenciamiento efectivo. El liderazgo no solo debe de ser responsabilidad de los gerentes, también debe de haber líderes que sean responsables a niveles menores.
3. La cultura del equipo es más importante que tener personas con grandes credenciales
4. Trabajar en los reemplazos para tener una fuente constante de personas que puedan seguir creciendo y que el equipo no se ve afectado.
5. Planes de trabajo claros. Para muchos entrenadores es más importante tener una excelente ejecución de la estrategia que ganar pues se gana con las acciones diarias.
6. Camaradería. Poder hacer que el equipo se lleve bien dentro y fuera de la empresa para crear ambientes más amigables
7. Eficiencia sin importar la situación. Sobre todo, para equipo donde no se puede generar la camaradería
8. Mentoría de parte de los jugadores con experiencia con los novatos.
9. Ajuste en cambios de liderazgo
10. Adaptarse al cambio
11. Reuniones eficientes. Es claro que este puede ser el dolor de cabeza de las organizaciones por lo que deben de tener un contenido útil para el equipo y se debe de hablar de la reunión en los liderazgos intermedios.
12. Alinear al equipo para que todos vayan en la misma dirección sin importar que rol jueguen.
13. Hacer análisis internos y externos para buscar áreas de oportunidad, así como puntos en donde el equipo puede generar valor.
14. Ganar en situaciones difíciles. En muchos casos la adversidad va a estar en contra del equipo por lo que estos deben de tener un trabajo casi perfecto para que en las peores situaciones puedan ganar. Esto siempre se debe de hacer practicando.
15. Sacan lo mejor de todos para ser exitosos. Esto los líderes sabemos que es un arte pues exigir hasta el punto máximo en el que motivamos a la persona a dar lo mejor de ella sin que la quememos.
16. Mantienen el éxito. Hemos visto grandes equipos que se caen o desarman después de ser exitosos pues su visión cambia. Un buen líder debe de ser capaz de cambiar los objetivos y los entrenamientos para que el equipo pueda seguir ganando.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was more helpful than I thought it would be, balancing between sports and business lessons learned. It highlighted the importance of shared values and that everyone who walks through the door of an organization should think they are why the company exists. While I’ll list out the 16 things high performing teams should do, each has a value sublist: 1) start with why, 2) synergistic leadership adjusts to what’s needed (command and control, relational, expert, charismatic), 3) fit is better than credentials – nurture a culture where members celebrate their peers, 4) build depth – no one is irreplaceable so identify high performers who can take on other roles in an emergency, 5) set a road map & constantly re-evaluate progress, 6) promote camaraderie – especially among top performers, 7) manage friction and adversity, 8) have a growth mindset, 9) let change accelerate success not hinder it, 10) welcome new ideas and strategies, 11) run routine things with efficiency, 12) evaluate / AAR own teams, 13) use analytics, 14) finish strong despite hard times – which includes getting new tasks at the last minute, 15) speak in positive communication, and 16) avoid pitfalls of success.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Mr. Yaeger's Great Teams after an organizational think tank weekend. It was a timely read that mirrored many of the concepts and ideas that were discussed at the think tank, in addition to providing accounts not addressed. Yes, many sports analogies are used, but many business analogies are also presented. Both can be successfully applied to other types of institutional and organizational models.

[Bart Decaigny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elke vergelijking loopt per definitie wel ergens mank, en succes bij het coachen/managen van sportteams doortrekken naar ondernemingen: dat klinkt nogal optimistisch.
Maar als je het boek aanvat met een open geest (en wat scepsis) kan je er toch wel wat uithalen. De opbouw in 16 hoofstukken rond een thema, met telkens eerst een sport organisatie, en dan de vergelijking met de bedrijfswereld - uiteindelijk werkt het wel behoorlijk.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are into sports you will really like this book. I think sports are ok but 90% of the references are sports teams related. The book basically gives brief overview of concepts then uses a bunch of real world examples to explain it further. Sometimes wish the concepts were more explained less examples. Overall, I thought the book was fine but much more enjoyable if you are really into sports.

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hard going for me to get through because everything related back to sports. If you were a person who enjoys sports you’d get a lot from this book.
I definitely found things in this book that I would do something with. I loved the end chapter which wrapped up with wisdom from all the different coaches they talked about in the book.

[Simeon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is almost useless to me. It is full of anecdotes that do not support any thesis. I am sorry to give a negative review and I do appreciate that author wrote it. I was just expecting useful advice from it that I did not receive.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

More soprts

Did we needs another book that celebrates coaches and sports as the model for everything we should be doing? No.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waaaay too many sports metaphors for my taste, but I enjoyed the leadership profiling and tests.

[Mark Stapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook
notes in note

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lack of focus - too many points.

[Nick Fruendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great examples of teamwork in sports that can be applied to business

[Shreyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, though the points illustrated are in sports context, they are nonetheless valid across domains.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book on leadership and teamwork. I appreciated all the examples. It's sports focus makes it tough for all audiences but they are apropos.

[Pedro Henriques · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very average book about teams, full of sports analogies. Fairly unremarkable.

[Ramon Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for any youth coach or K-12 teacher. Learn from the great leaders on leadership and never be afraid to ask for guidance. That's what great leaders do. They stay humble.

[Mark Palmer]

Good insights

Lot to digest, will want to read again to get the lessons ingrained so I can apply my life. Appreciated most of the examples of each trait being discussed.