Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders

by Susan a Wheelan, Maria Åkerlund, Christian Jacobsson

A practical guide for building and sustaining top-performing teams   

Based on the authors′ many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sectors,  Creating Effective A Guide for Members and Leaders  describes why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them successful. The texts covers the four stages of team development ―forming, storming, norming, and performing― to help readers effectively navigate these different phases. Separate chapters are devoted to the responsibilities of team leaders and team members. Susan A. Wheelan, Maria Akerlund, and Christian Jacobsson highlight common problems that occur frequently in groups as well as provide practical tips, real-life examples, and questionnaires to help address those problems. The  Sixth Edition  includes a new Chapter 11 on Changes in Team Functioning explores the benefits and challenges of working on fluid teams, self-managed teams, agile teams, virtual teams, and multicultural teams. A significantly revised Chapter 12 highlights the latest research on the integrated model of group development. 

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Management, Psychology, School, Design

168 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 1999

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Min föreläsare har träffat Wheelan och beskrev henne ungefär som "en naturkraft med whiskeyhes röst som rökte som en borstbinda som inte lät någon ställa sig ivägen" och det tycker jag är det finaste man kan vara

[Viktor Stevander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bra bok som jag rekommenderar alla i någon form av ledarposition att läsa. Som vanligt med amerikansk facklitteratur är det för många ord som sällan säger hela sanningen, men när russinen är plockade ur kakan finns det fortfarande gott om saker att ta med sig.

[Mårten Andersson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tips från Ulf: Denna bok tror jag är bibeln inom arbetet med att skapa effektiva team. Bokens teori är den enda som bygger på 40 års forskning och är den första vetenskapligt bevisade modellen där man sammanfattat och testat de populäraste grupputvecklings teorierna.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

can’t rate it lower because it was an easy read. unfortunately had to read it for uni work

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of course literature. Wheelan is a very talented writer: this is course literature I didn't get sleepy out of. Refreshing language with many good examples makes this book both fun and learning to read.bits fairly short, too, and I finished it fast. I'm writing an essay on how to create effective teams, where this book was part of the course literature. I am not entirely sure I can make usage of the entire book. For the last 50 or so pages, I could not formulate any questions to use in my work. However, I think it is a good book to have read when you're part of a difficult group process. It explains how the processes are mostly likely to occur and why they do. However I do feel like this is the case of American group culture. I am Swedish, and I'm not so sure that this book could in this full extent be applied to a Swedish, or even an European case.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a class. I found it to be succinct, relevant, and helpful for considering my current and past teams. The quizzes were particularly helpful and clear structure made it easy to find what I needed. Highly recommend for educators and other fields.

[Daniel Falkemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kort sammanfattning. Bra men torr.

Susan Wheelan har skapat en modell för grupputveckling som är lätt att förstå, minnas och ta till sig. Eftersom den vilar på mycket forskning gör det den både användbar och trovärdig.

[philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Practically helpful, short and very much to the point. Best teamwork book I've read. Strongly recommend to any team member or leader.

[Viktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not set in a software development setting, so the examples are not entirely relevant. Also, the theory is presented as a linear development when the development of group dynamics is not linear.

[Evelina · Rating 1 out of 5]

lider med alla som tvingas läsa denna i sitt arbete.

[Abdulah Alobaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an interesting tool to create effective teams. the next step is to train our people in the organization on it. Totally recommend for change leaders, consultants, team members and managers.

[Jordan Hamby · Rating 2 out of 5]

For class

[lydia]

ganska repetitiv, men den var i alla fall inte för tung.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the 5th edition. This is hands on, get it done-advice, we're all in this together. Easy to read and useful.

[Merkurius · Rating 2 out of 5]

För grundläggande, inte så givande läsning.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another reference book regarding the stages and elements of team development, though this one was written more for the corporate world than educators. The points are still valid, though, and the text itself is a quicker and easier read than Interactions Collaboration Skills for School Professionals

[Bdalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good short book on the stages of team development. There is a lot of practical, common sense advice. It may not be enough information for someone looking to establish good team processes. One of the main points of this book is regarding the importance of being a good team member. This is often overlooked in books that emphasis leadership.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for school, but I really liked this book as kind of a "how to" for creating good teams and for identifying the things that should be happening in the various stages of group development. I recommend it for anyone who is looking to get more out of teams they work with on a regular basis!

[Nikita Rvachev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book how to create and facilitate teams.
It's small so you can read it very quickly.
I think this is the kind of book you have to reread sometimes and reflect about you current team dynamic.

[Frances Forgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

useful points but very repetitive and patronising tone

[Jason Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've never had any serious team guidance, then you need to read this. It is short and doesn't take much time. However, if you have had some leadership training you probably covered a lot of it.

[Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the ideas about team developments but find the book a bit condescending and lacking background or scientific references.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading if you want to get an understanding of working in teams, how people work together, why and how you can improve your team work.

[Amanda Maldonado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good nuggets

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The average person of goodwill, who is flexible and willing to learn some basic skills, can be an effective leader."

"To be effective, leaders must understand the work of a group. The social skills needed in different leadership roles also vary. Leaders need to adjust their leadership style to meet the development needs of the group at a particular time."

"A work group is composed of members who are striving to create a shared view of goals and to develop an efficient and effective organizational structure in which to accomplish those goals. A work group becomes a team when shared goals have been established and effective methods to accomplish those goals are in place."

"Stages of Group Development:
1. Dependency and Inclusion
2. Counterdependency and Fighting
3. Trust and Structure
4. Work and Productivity "

"Trust is built between members not by words but by actions."

"The group is stuck in a pattern of conflict, members tend to focus on blaming outside forces, other members, or the leader for the group’s predicament. as long as blaming is the primary pattern, the group will remain stuck. Also, the longer the blaming continues, the more powerless and frustrated group members will feel."