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Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently
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
Life lessons from some of the most notable names in sports and business applied to team-making in any situation Interviews from well-known players from Peyton and Eli Manning to Kevin DurantSkills to allow culture to shape who you recruit, manage dysfunction, friction, and strong personalitiesAdvice on how to win in critical situations, embrace change, build a mentoring culture, and see value others missGreat 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.
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
Life lessons from some of the most notable names in sports and business applied to team-making in any situation Interviews from well-known players from Peyton and Eli Manning to Kevin DurantSkills to allow culture to shape who you recruit, manage dysfunction, friction, and strong personalitiesAdvice on how to win in critical situations, embrace change, build a mentoring culture, and see value others missGreat 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.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published July 19, 2016
About the author
Don Yaeger
84 books57 followersDon 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.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 5, 2018
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.
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.
September 27, 2017
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.
Having more business examples would improve the readability for me.
August 7, 2016
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.
I learned some interesting tidbits about sports, but not much else. Maybe on my second listening I will have a different opinion.
October 14, 2026
“There is something special about watching a Great Team at work. Whether it is on the gridiron, on the diamond, on the hardwood, or in a corporate setting, when a group of people ‘click,’ the environment feels electric and the outcome is often extraordinary.”
— Don Yaeger, Great Teams: 16 Things High-Performing Organizations Do Differently
One of the great things about growing up as a sports-obsessed kid (and remaining one well into adulthood) is the number of life lessons I've picked up along the way. Whether it was Steve Spurrier, Billy Donovan, Jürgen Klopp, or countless others, I've spent much of my life watching coaches and teams whose approaches to leadership, motivation, and success have helped shape my own thinking.
Certainly, sports can take on an outsized importance in our culture, but I think dismissing "sportsball" out of hand is equally misguided. There is plenty to be learned from studying how successful people and organizations operate, whether their work takes place on a field, a court, or somewhere entirely different. The challenge, of course, is separating the lessons that can actually be applied elsewhere from the circumstances that made those successes possible in the first place.
In Great Teams, longtime sports journalist Don Yaeger attempts to do just that, identifying 16 characteristics shared by high-performing teams and exploring how those lessons can translate beyond sports. Drawing on decades of reporting and relationships with some of the biggest names in athletics, Yaeger offers an impressive collection of stories about the coaches, players, and organizations that have achieved extraordinary success.
As the aforementioned sports guy, I was already familiar with many of the examples, which occasionally took away some of their impact. Still, Yaeger's extensive experience and connections allow him to highlight some lesser-known stories that I genuinely enjoyed discovering. More importantly, the book provides plenty of opportunities to consider how the principles behind those successes might apply to teams that will never step onto a playing field.
That was particularly relevant to me as an educational leader who has spent time both inside and outside the classroom. Throughout the book, I found myself reflecting on my own leadership style, the things I believe I do well, and the areas where I could be more intentional in supporting the people I work with. I appreciated that the book encouraged that kind of self-reflection rather than simply offering a collection of inspirational sports stories.
However, the book's structure eventually becomes one of its weaknesses. With 16 characteristics to cover, the chapters begin to feel a bit like a laundry list, and some of the lessons and examples start to blend together. There are only so many ways to illustrate the importance of accountability, culture, and shared purpose before the distinctions between them begin to feel less meaningful. Combined with my familiarity with many of the stories, this made portions of the book feel more repetitive than revelatory.
My larger criticism, though, is the extent to which the book occasionally falls into what historians call the "great man" theory of history, or what we might call the "great coach" theory of sports. Leaders like Coach K and Nick Saban are presented as exceptional figures whose philosophies, personalities, and sheer force of will are largely responsible for their teams' success. There is certainly something to that argument, and I wouldn't question that both are extraordinary coaches. But I think that perspective can also oversimplify what makes a team successful.
Take Nick Saban, for example. There is no question that he is a master motivator who understands how to build a culture, establish expectations, and use sports psychology to combat complacency. Those are legitimate leadership skills worth studying. At the same time, his success at Alabama was also supported by an institution willing and able to devote extraordinary resources to its football program, advantages that many equally dedicated and talented coaches simply never have the opportunity to enjoy. College athletics has also long operated in an environment where recruiting advantages, institutional influence, and sometimes questionable practices can shape competitive outcomes.
None of that diminishes Saban's abilities, but it does complicate the idea that another leader can simply adopt his philosophy and expect similar results. Leadership matters tremendously, but so do resources, opportunity, institutional support, timing, and sometimes plain old luck. A great leader can make an enormous difference, but even the best coach isn't working in a vacuum.
To be fair, a detailed examination of all those factors would probably bog down Yaeger's book and distract from what he's trying to accomplish. Still, I think it's an important distinction, especially when we try to apply lessons from elite sports programs to schools, businesses, and other organizations. We can learn from what successful leaders do without assuming that their success is entirely the product of their leadership or that their methods will produce the same results in every environment.
Despite those criticisms, I found Great Teams to be a worthwhile read, particularly because it encouraged me to reflect on the kind of leader I want to be. I also think its sports-centered approach makes it accessible to readers who might otherwise have little interest in picking up a book about organizational leadership. If a story about Nick Saban, Coach K, or another successful coach gets someone thinking more seriously about how they lead and interact with others, that's a positive outcome.
Ultimately, I don't think the greatest value of a book like this is providing a checklist that guarantees success. It's giving us an opportunity to examine our own habits, question our assumptions, and consider how we can better serve the people who depend on us. The more thoughtful, self-aware, and empathetic we become as leaders, the better chance our teams have to reach their potential.
And whether we're talking about a football team, a classroom, or an office, that's a goal worth working toward.
— Don Yaeger, Great Teams: 16 Things High-Performing Organizations Do Differently
One of the great things about growing up as a sports-obsessed kid (and remaining one well into adulthood) is the number of life lessons I've picked up along the way. Whether it was Steve Spurrier, Billy Donovan, Jürgen Klopp, or countless others, I've spent much of my life watching coaches and teams whose approaches to leadership, motivation, and success have helped shape my own thinking.
Certainly, sports can take on an outsized importance in our culture, but I think dismissing "sportsball" out of hand is equally misguided. There is plenty to be learned from studying how successful people and organizations operate, whether their work takes place on a field, a court, or somewhere entirely different. The challenge, of course, is separating the lessons that can actually be applied elsewhere from the circumstances that made those successes possible in the first place.
In Great Teams, longtime sports journalist Don Yaeger attempts to do just that, identifying 16 characteristics shared by high-performing teams and exploring how those lessons can translate beyond sports. Drawing on decades of reporting and relationships with some of the biggest names in athletics, Yaeger offers an impressive collection of stories about the coaches, players, and organizations that have achieved extraordinary success.
As the aforementioned sports guy, I was already familiar with many of the examples, which occasionally took away some of their impact. Still, Yaeger's extensive experience and connections allow him to highlight some lesser-known stories that I genuinely enjoyed discovering. More importantly, the book provides plenty of opportunities to consider how the principles behind those successes might apply to teams that will never step onto a playing field.
That was particularly relevant to me as an educational leader who has spent time both inside and outside the classroom. Throughout the book, I found myself reflecting on my own leadership style, the things I believe I do well, and the areas where I could be more intentional in supporting the people I work with. I appreciated that the book encouraged that kind of self-reflection rather than simply offering a collection of inspirational sports stories.
However, the book's structure eventually becomes one of its weaknesses. With 16 characteristics to cover, the chapters begin to feel a bit like a laundry list, and some of the lessons and examples start to blend together. There are only so many ways to illustrate the importance of accountability, culture, and shared purpose before the distinctions between them begin to feel less meaningful. Combined with my familiarity with many of the stories, this made portions of the book feel more repetitive than revelatory.
My larger criticism, though, is the extent to which the book occasionally falls into what historians call the "great man" theory of history, or what we might call the "great coach" theory of sports. Leaders like Coach K and Nick Saban are presented as exceptional figures whose philosophies, personalities, and sheer force of will are largely responsible for their teams' success. There is certainly something to that argument, and I wouldn't question that both are extraordinary coaches. But I think that perspective can also oversimplify what makes a team successful.
Take Nick Saban, for example. There is no question that he is a master motivator who understands how to build a culture, establish expectations, and use sports psychology to combat complacency. Those are legitimate leadership skills worth studying. At the same time, his success at Alabama was also supported by an institution willing and able to devote extraordinary resources to its football program, advantages that many equally dedicated and talented coaches simply never have the opportunity to enjoy. College athletics has also long operated in an environment where recruiting advantages, institutional influence, and sometimes questionable practices can shape competitive outcomes.
None of that diminishes Saban's abilities, but it does complicate the idea that another leader can simply adopt his philosophy and expect similar results. Leadership matters tremendously, but so do resources, opportunity, institutional support, timing, and sometimes plain old luck. A great leader can make an enormous difference, but even the best coach isn't working in a vacuum.
To be fair, a detailed examination of all those factors would probably bog down Yaeger's book and distract from what he's trying to accomplish. Still, I think it's an important distinction, especially when we try to apply lessons from elite sports programs to schools, businesses, and other organizations. We can learn from what successful leaders do without assuming that their success is entirely the product of their leadership or that their methods will produce the same results in every environment.
Despite those criticisms, I found Great Teams to be a worthwhile read, particularly because it encouraged me to reflect on the kind of leader I want to be. I also think its sports-centered approach makes it accessible to readers who might otherwise have little interest in picking up a book about organizational leadership. If a story about Nick Saban, Coach K, or another successful coach gets someone thinking more seriously about how they lead and interact with others, that's a positive outcome.
Ultimately, I don't think the greatest value of a book like this is providing a checklist that guarantees success. It's giving us an opportunity to examine our own habits, question our assumptions, and consider how we can better serve the people who depend on us. The more thoughtful, self-aware, and empathetic we become as leaders, the better chance our teams have to reach their potential.
And whether we're talking about a football team, a classroom, or an office, that's a goal worth working toward.
July 13, 2017
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.
November 5, 2018
“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.
July 10, 2017
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.
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.
July 24, 2018
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.
Excellent book on team dynamics and the characteristics of great teams. A good book for anyone who leads teams. Well written and cited.
October 3, 2018
Easy read, but very basic and introductory.
November 30, 2018
https://itchingtoread.blogspot.com/20...
good insights need more real life business insights
good insights need more real life business insights
November 11, 2019
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.
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.
February 20, 2026
In the non-fiction book, Great Teams, the author Don Yaeger explains the true meaning of the word “team”. He breaks the word down into their own categories, creating four pillars. Where he thoroughly goes through each pillar explaining them in the sports and business world. He makes it very clear that a team’s performance isn’t just about talent, but emphasizes purpose, culture, leadership habits, communication, and resilience. He constantly explores the dynamics of successful teams such as the USA men's basketball "Dream Team", the San Antonio Spurs, the New England Patriots, Microsoft, Amazon, and so on. He identifies key characteristics such as strong leadership, clear communication, shared vision, and trust. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each team member’s role and following through completing the role to your best ability. He shows how the principles mentioned can be or have been used in high performance teams that achieve outstanding results.
Being an athlete, I really like this book, the message, and explanations given. One aspect of the book that I really do like is how he pulls in different teams from both sports and business to interview them. Yaeger interviews Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball. Colangelo’s words serve as a good reminder for all athletes. Colangelo makes a point by saying, “When you put a uniform on with ‘USA’, you’re diminishing the player’s name. I want our players to regain respect for what it meant to represent their country” (Yaeger 9). Another thing I love is how organized Yaeger is when writing the book. Every chapter when he makes a new point he uses real life examples. He starts by using a sports team example, then a business example, then a brief overview. Although this book has many likeable things, I personally don’t love how wordy Yaeger gets. Some things he says could take two sentences, but he stretches them into a long paragraph. Overall, it isn’t always a bad thing and Yaeger definitely has lots of valuable information.
This book is a great book in many ways, as it touches on a little bit of everything for everyone. I personally would recommend this book to more of the older side. If you are someone who is struggling, I also recommend this book. As he gives many valuable tips and reminders. One example that could help someone struggling would be, “In the corporate world, the SWOT analysis is a user-friendly, widely acceptable tool that helps an organization evaluate itself internally. S-strengths, W-weaknesses, O-opportunities, T-threats” (149). I think anyone who is interested in leading a team, company, or being a leader in any type of way would really love and benefit from this book. I also would recommend this book to anyone who is about 16 and up as you start to think about what you want to do with your life. I personally loved this book and definitely think there are many great takeaways.
Being an athlete, I really like this book, the message, and explanations given. One aspect of the book that I really do like is how he pulls in different teams from both sports and business to interview them. Yaeger interviews Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball. Colangelo’s words serve as a good reminder for all athletes. Colangelo makes a point by saying, “When you put a uniform on with ‘USA’, you’re diminishing the player’s name. I want our players to regain respect for what it meant to represent their country” (Yaeger 9). Another thing I love is how organized Yaeger is when writing the book. Every chapter when he makes a new point he uses real life examples. He starts by using a sports team example, then a business example, then a brief overview. Although this book has many likeable things, I personally don’t love how wordy Yaeger gets. Some things he says could take two sentences, but he stretches them into a long paragraph. Overall, it isn’t always a bad thing and Yaeger definitely has lots of valuable information.
This book is a great book in many ways, as it touches on a little bit of everything for everyone. I personally would recommend this book to more of the older side. If you are someone who is struggling, I also recommend this book. As he gives many valuable tips and reminders. One example that could help someone struggling would be, “In the corporate world, the SWOT analysis is a user-friendly, widely acceptable tool that helps an organization evaluate itself internally. S-strengths, W-weaknesses, O-opportunities, T-threats” (149). I think anyone who is interested in leading a team, company, or being a leader in any type of way would really love and benefit from this book. I also would recommend this book to anyone who is about 16 and up as you start to think about what you want to do with your life. I personally loved this book and definitely think there are many great takeaways.
September 19, 2020
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.
October 21, 2019
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.
June 9, 2022
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.
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.
October 24, 2022
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.
October 24, 2020
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.
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.
May 24, 2026
The book lacks a uniting theme. It hops around highlighting one great sports team after another without unifying themes. My take away was that if you are a winning sports team you must have great leadership. But each leader seemed to apply different tactics, so I was left lacking take-away nuggets.
September 1, 2020
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.
August 25, 2019
More soprts
Did we needs another book that celebrates coaches and sports as the model for everything we should be doing? No.
Did we needs another book that celebrates coaches and sports as the model for everything we should be doing? No.
December 30, 2019
Waaaay too many sports metaphors for my taste, but I enjoyed the leadership profiling and tests.
February 28, 2020
Audiobook
notes in note
notes in note
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
Lack of focus - too many points.
July 17, 2021
Some great examples of teamwork in sports that can be applied to business
April 13, 2022
A good book, though the points illustrated are in sports context, they are nonetheless valid across domains.
March 16, 2023
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.
February 1, 2025
Very average book about teams, full of sports analogies. Fairly unremarkable.
April 19, 2017
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.
Read
October 14, 2018Good 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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews