What do you think?
Rate this book
High Five! The Magic of Working Together
High Five! combines the spellbinding charm of a timeless parable with cutting-edge information about why teams are important and what individuals and organizations can do to build successful ones. Through the story of Alan Foster, a workplace one-man band, High Five! identifies the four key ingredients of winning teams. Although Alan is an effective producer, he is unwilling to share the spotlight by partnering on projects and is fired because, as his boss puts it, "Alan, we need good producers who are good team players, too." It is a bitter pill for him to swallow. While mulling over his disappointment, he takes his son to his grade-five hockey practice, where it is clear that his son's team, the Riverbend Warriors, knows nothing about teamwork, either. When the team's two overworked coaches learn of Alan's plight, they persuade him to join their ranks, and he finds himself charged with teaching himself and the players the meaning of teamwork. With the help of a woman friend-a former girls' basketball coach who has "won more high school basketball championships than anyone"-Alan and the Warriors learn the magic of teamwork and that "none of us is as smart as all of us." With its simple style and easy-to-follow techniques, High Five! is a must-read for anyone seeking to learn the value and power of teamwork.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published December 26, 2000
23 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth H. Blanchard
315 books1,857 followersKen Blanchard, one of the most influential leadership experts in the world, is the coauthor of the iconic bestseller, The One Minute Manager, and 60 other books whose combined sales total more than 21 million copies. His groundbreaking works have been translated into more than 27 languages and in 2005 he was inducted into Amazon’s Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 bestselling authors of all time.
Ken is also the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies®, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California.
When he’s not writing or speaking, Ken also spends time teaching students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Ken can be found at www.kenblanchard.com.
Ken is also the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies®, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California.
When he’s not writing or speaking, Ken also spends time teaching students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. Ken can be found at www.kenblanchard.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 23, 2022
A cute little book about how to make a struggling 10-year-old boys hockey team into a winner. 4 main principles:
1. Provide a clear sense of purpose with values and goals - give team members a reason to trade self for selflessness.
2. Unleash and develop individual skills that bolster collective skills.
3. Create team power. "None of us is as smart as all of us".
4. Keep the accent on the positive - repeated reward and recognition.
1. Provide a clear sense of purpose with values and goals - give team members a reason to trade self for selflessness.
2. Unleash and develop individual skills that bolster collective skills.
3. Create team power. "None of us is as smart as all of us".
4. Keep the accent on the positive - repeated reward and recognition.
May 12, 2020
More details on my blog: https://www.jackvinson.com/blog/2020/...
This was suggested by a colleague. It's hard to find now - no ebook available, and it seems the hardcover version is stuffed on a high shelf in a warehouse somewhere.
This is a VERY fast read with plenty of space in the margins to write notes or doodle ideas. And given that it is ~20 years old, is a classic from the Ken Blanchard school of management. There are some familiar aphorism in here about how people work together - and how we can work together better.
The basic concept is that a team is only as good as the group - it isn't the star players, it is all the players working toward the same goals and getting there together.
Given the type of book, it felt like the authors hammered some points home pretty hard. But I guess that is the idea.
This was suggested by a colleague. It's hard to find now - no ebook available, and it seems the hardcover version is stuffed on a high shelf in a warehouse somewhere.
This is a VERY fast read with plenty of space in the margins to write notes or doodle ideas. And given that it is ~20 years old, is a classic from the Ken Blanchard school of management. There are some familiar aphorism in here about how people work together - and how we can work together better.
The basic concept is that a team is only as good as the group - it isn't the star players, it is all the players working toward the same goals and getting there together.
Given the type of book, it felt like the authors hammered some points home pretty hard. But I guess that is the idea.
July 29, 2012
High Five by Ken Blanchard was an excellent book for those interested in leadership and team building. Being a high school coach, I gained valuable insight on strategies to create a dynamic team. Ken Blanchard weaves a powerful message into an easy to relate story. Most of can relate to the main character Alan Foster, who is a control-freak, and feels his way is the only way. After being fired from his job, Alan begins to coach his son's fifth grade hockey team. Although stubborn at first, Alan learns the four key ingredients to winning teams from this coaching experience. However, he must call on the former girl's basketball coach, Mrs. Weatherby, who has won more high school basketball championships than anyone to help him produce a winning team. Throughout this book, I found myself rooting for Alan to make the changes in his own life to become an extraordinary leader. High Five is a must read for anyone who is looking for simple ways to create successful teams.
May 22, 2008
My team at Dell was forced to read this book and discuss it in our weekly meetings. It was stupid. A stupid book for stupid people.
September 13, 2019
Better written than the other Blanchard books I've read, but least helpful. I'm already a team player.
March 11, 2008
Outstanding book about leadership. Quick, easy read. A must for anyone in a leadership position!
February 13, 2021
This is an impactful short read about the importance of teamwork. This midern fable lays out the steps to forming a great team in an easily digestible way. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to learn more about creating a successful team, either on a field or in an office.
January 2, 2018
Easy and quick read. Book on teamwork. Team work explained with a story.
January 13, 2018
Amazing book about teamwork!
January 17, 2019
Like always, the first couple of chapters and tips are good. Then it gets a bit forced as the authors labour to convince the believers.
July 14, 2023
Such a wholesome book!
January 14, 2024
A very simple and easy to read story with profound instructions for building a team. If you are in charge of people, you should read this book.
January 7, 2014
High Five! is an ingenious effort by Ken and team to communicate the importance and dynamics of Teamwork, be in a Five-Grader Hockey League or a Fortune 500 company. The best part of the book is that there are no boring lectures and theories, as in Management books in general, instead, there is an inspiring story narrated by Alan Fosters . The story is written so beautifully that you wonder how The Warriors, who have been losing throughout, are going to turn the cards around and win The Division Cup!. By the time story ends you realize you have already learnt a very important life-lesson – Importance of Teamwork.
The story starts at an interesting note where Alan Fosters having been laid off for not being a Team Player gets hired to coach a hockey team of grade five teamwork. And then he, in turn, takes help from an 85 years old former girls basketball coach.
The authors have been successful in drawing a parallel between a sports team and a work team. Just like the sports coaches, who need to invest in training and coaching, managers too need to work towards the skills of the team. However, in many cases, in corporate, managers are reluctant as they believe either they would have to pay more or that the employee would leave. They fail to understand that good employees are more productive and so the company could afford to pay more.
More than anything else, all the sub-stories are relatable to a corporate scenario. There are mentions of flexibility, cross-training, sharing leadership, sticking to a plan, change in plans…
I highly recommend to read this book irrespective of your work setting. If you are a team leader, don’t wait for Christmas to gift it to your teammates. Closing remark – A team is a team. Team’s success is must for an individual success. A team is a team!
Read my entire review at http://itslifeto.me/en/high-five-the-...
The story starts at an interesting note where Alan Fosters having been laid off for not being a Team Player gets hired to coach a hockey team of grade five teamwork. And then he, in turn, takes help from an 85 years old former girls basketball coach.
The authors have been successful in drawing a parallel between a sports team and a work team. Just like the sports coaches, who need to invest in training and coaching, managers too need to work towards the skills of the team. However, in many cases, in corporate, managers are reluctant as they believe either they would have to pay more or that the employee would leave. They fail to understand that good employees are more productive and so the company could afford to pay more.
More than anything else, all the sub-stories are relatable to a corporate scenario. There are mentions of flexibility, cross-training, sharing leadership, sticking to a plan, change in plans…
I highly recommend to read this book irrespective of your work setting. If you are a team leader, don’t wait for Christmas to gift it to your teammates. Closing remark – A team is a team. Team’s success is must for an individual success. A team is a team!
Read my entire review at http://itslifeto.me/en/high-five-the-...
January 16, 2014
Ken Blanchard använder sig av en historia för att lägga fram sina teorier. Det är en historia om Alan Foster som förlorar sitt jobb för att han inte är en lagspelare och The Warriors som är ett av seriens sämsta hockeylag, pga att de inte spelar som ett lag. Under berättelsens gång lär sig båda vad teamwork kan innebära för individens och lagets framgång.
Ingen av oss är lika duktig som vi är tillsammans
High five en symbol för ett fint lag som fungerar utmärkt och åstadkommer strålande resultat
De 4 nycklarna till ett framgångsrikt lag
1) ett meningsfullt syfte - plus gemensamma värderingar och mål
Programförklaring förklara tydligt vad laget vill uppnå, varför målen är viktiga och hur laget tänker samarbeta för att nå dessa resultat
Syfte, värderingar & mål
2) utveckla sin skicklighet, ständiga förbättringar, mäta förbättringarna och ge feedback - tekniska färdigheter
3) ingen av oss är lika duktig som vi är tillsammans - synergistisk harmoni
4) upprepad uppmuntran och uppskattning
Puck -
peka ur ett tydligt syfte och gemensamma värderingar och mål
utveckla lagets skicklighet
cementera lagandan
konstant uppmuntran, inrikta sig på det positiva
Syfte, teknik, laganda och positivitet
Fungera -
Förutsättningar, syfte och värderingar
Uppmärksamhet och uppskattning
Nytta och produktivitet
Gruppflexibilitet
Engagemang
Relationer och kommunikation
Ansvar och befogenheter
High Five bygger på två andra böcker
The one minute manager builds high performing teams (enminutschefen och vinnarteamet) handlar främst om processen, själva lagutvecklingens faser samt de ledarbeteenden som främjar mästerskap. FUNGERA som tas upp i denna boken kommer därifrån.
Gung Ho! Handlar främst om att skapa och kanalisera såväl gruppens som den enskildes energi. Grundbegrepp är meningsfulla arbetsuppgifter, kontroll över att målen uppnås och att sporra andra.
Ingen av oss är lika duktig som vi är tillsammans
High five en symbol för ett fint lag som fungerar utmärkt och åstadkommer strålande resultat
De 4 nycklarna till ett framgångsrikt lag
1) ett meningsfullt syfte - plus gemensamma värderingar och mål
Programförklaring förklara tydligt vad laget vill uppnå, varför målen är viktiga och hur laget tänker samarbeta för att nå dessa resultat
Syfte, värderingar & mål
2) utveckla sin skicklighet, ständiga förbättringar, mäta förbättringarna och ge feedback - tekniska färdigheter
3) ingen av oss är lika duktig som vi är tillsammans - synergistisk harmoni
4) upprepad uppmuntran och uppskattning
Puck -
peka ur ett tydligt syfte och gemensamma värderingar och mål
utveckla lagets skicklighet
cementera lagandan
konstant uppmuntran, inrikta sig på det positiva
Syfte, teknik, laganda och positivitet
Fungera -
Förutsättningar, syfte och värderingar
Uppmärksamhet och uppskattning
Nytta och produktivitet
Gruppflexibilitet
Engagemang
Relationer och kommunikation
Ansvar och befogenheter
High Five bygger på två andra böcker
The one minute manager builds high performing teams (enminutschefen och vinnarteamet) handlar främst om processen, själva lagutvecklingens faser samt de ledarbeteenden som främjar mästerskap. FUNGERA som tas upp i denna boken kommer därifrån.
Gung Ho! Handlar främst om att skapa och kanalisera såväl gruppens som den enskildes energi. Grundbegrepp är meningsfulla arbetsuppgifter, kontroll över att målen uppnås och att sporra andra.
November 29, 2010
أول مرة أفهم فريق العمل وأقدر قيمته
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
فقد اشتريت هذا الكتاب أيام تخفيضات مكتبة بوردرز بسعر بخس ولذا لم أتوقع هذه الفائدة وتلك المتعة
إنه كتاب بسيط في الإدارة وقد لا يُرضي القاريء الإداري النهم ولكنه لا شك مفيد لأمثالي من المبتدئين. فمن خلال قصة فريق رياضي مَدرسي ومدربيهم يُعلمك ما هي أهمية الفريق في أي مجال وما هي العوامل الأساسية لنجاحه
أحب الكتب العلمية الجافة التي يعرضها كاتبها بطريقة قصصية فيها شيء من التشويق. القصة هنا لاشك فيها بساطة مبالغ فيها ولو جعل فيها بعض الصعوبات ثم طرق معالجتها لكانت أوقع وأنفع
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
فقد اشتريت هذا الكتاب أيام تخفيضات مكتبة بوردرز بسعر بخس ولذا لم أتوقع هذه الفائدة وتلك المتعة
إنه كتاب بسيط في الإدارة وقد لا يُرضي القاريء الإداري النهم ولكنه لا شك مفيد لأمثالي من المبتدئين. فمن خلال قصة فريق رياضي مَدرسي ومدربيهم يُعلمك ما هي أهمية الفريق في أي مجال وما هي العوامل الأساسية لنجاحه
أحب الكتب العلمية الجافة التي يعرضها كاتبها بطريقة قصصية فيها شيء من التشويق. القصة هنا لاشك فيها بساطة مبالغ فيها ولو جعل فيها بعض الصعوبات ثم طرق معالجتها لكانت أوقع وأنفع
September 4, 2012
Un relato entretenido de un equipo de hockey, donde se ponen de manifiesto cuatro caracteristicas para la creación de equipos de personas. 4 características sencillas, que ciertamente son tan simples que se olvidan... Mucha gente no gusta de este tipo de lecturas por el manejo de la enseñanza por medio de relatos, pero el estilo es útil para comprender el mensaje. La simpleza de los conceptos me hace querer ponerlos en práctica. Lee con entusiasmo este libro, para que no lo consideres uno más del género de autoayuda.
November 3, 2011
It was a nice book based on teamwork..liked the way the authors had presented such complicating terms in simple story. I wish the Riverbend Warriors had won!! The best part was when the boys were playing the maths activity in thier dressing room..nice idea of Weatherby..really nice!! The line which i found best was:
None of us is as smart as all of us.
I really was touched by the tragedy in Tim's life and the way he used to deal with it. In all it was a good book.
None of us is as smart as all of us.
I really was touched by the tragedy in Tim's life and the way he used to deal with it. In all it was a good book.
March 30, 2014
Solo le di 1 estrella porque no le podía dar cero. Nos obligaron a leer este libro para una materia de la universidad. Y obtuve una historia insulsa, ridícula y poco realista junto con una serie de conceptos aparentemente brillantes. No cabe duda que el éxito de algunos bestseller estriba precisamente en aproximarse a personas que no leen libros en absoluto, y que son por tanto más proclives a encontrar en este tipo de libros verdaderas joyas literarias.
Read
January 21, 2009It is an amazing book about team work. I read it over 4 months ago but forgot to write up about it. A solo performer gets fired from an organization because he was not a good team player.
He learns to build a school hockey team and learns how to tap his hidden skills in collaboration and team building. A nice book that moves fast and tells you lots of little stories.
He learns to build a school hockey team and learns how to tap his hidden skills in collaboration and team building. A nice book that moves fast and tells you lots of little stories.
September 14, 2012
Nice book! Uses sports analogy to talk about team work.
The best part for me was to reinforce positive behaviour instead of looking out for negative behaviour to avoid. I do think that most of us always look out for negative areas (now called 'areas of improvement') instead of focusing on the team's strengths.
I liked the concept of Repeated Reward & Recognition too.
The best part for me was to reinforce positive behaviour instead of looking out for negative behaviour to avoid. I do think that most of us always look out for negative areas (now called 'areas of improvement') instead of focusing on the team's strengths.
I liked the concept of Repeated Reward & Recognition too.
January 6, 2014
Compared to the other management/business books I've read by Blanchard & Bowles, this one was the cheesiest. While all of their books are simplistic, this one was just so obvious and dumb that I wasn't interested at all. Plus, this has an element of religion that was completely unnecessary and annoying. It was rather Jesus-y. Thumbs down.
July 7, 2016
If you are looking to read a fast story and learn from the team about building a STRONG TEAM -- then this is the book for you... Ken and his Team hit the nail on the head, building on "The One Minute Manager" and "Gung Ho." This is a really great series about and for team building.
May 17, 2013
Interesting approach to a managerial book. It uses a fictional story setting to guide the points in. In a way it reminds me of the other managerial book I just read. Encapsulating the teaching quickly and using a hook to get the point across easily.
September 20, 2018
En klassisk Ken Blanchard-bok om vikten av att ge beröm och skapa en miljö där man firar framgångar. Positivt ledarskapstänk à la Blanchard! Given bok att läsa för den som jobbar med människor och lättläst som nästan alla böcker av författaren.
October 7, 2014
This is one of the best business books on team work. I recommend it every chance I get. This book packs so much into just a few pages. The story delivery is magnificent and attention grabbing. A must have for any library.
March 14, 2008
Part of the Raving Fans Trilogy. Great for leaders/managers.
December 9, 2008
I wouldn't give this book a high five... maybe a high 3. The authors basically share tips for forming effective teams through a story of a grade 5 hockey team.
January 24, 2011
Great book! We used this as a team book for a basketball team and read through the season. It was a great bonding experience and life lessons for the team!
April 23, 2012
A grad school requirement.
Insightful, but super corny.
Insightful, but super corny.
July 14, 2012
I like the author, but he took a step backwards from "Who Moved My Cheese?"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews