Team of Teams is a book written by retired General Stanley McChrystal, which documents the challenges he faced while leading a Joint Special Operations Task Force in Iraq. The book provides a detailed account of the changes he made to the traditional military hierarchy in order to improve communication, collaboration, and decision-making within his organization.
The book is important because it highlights the need for organizations to be adaptable and agile in order to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of the modern world. The traditional hierarchical structure of the military was no longer effective in this context, and McChrystal realized that a more decentralized, networked approach was necessary to achieve success.
The book is aimed at leaders in any field who are looking to improve their organizational effectiveness. It provides practical advice and insights into how to build and lead a team of teams, and how to create a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.
The book was first published in 2015, and since then it has become a bestseller and has been widely praised for its innovative approach to leadership and management.
McChrystal's approach involved breaking down silos and empowering teams to take ownership of their own decisions. He encouraged a culture of open communication and transparency, where everyone had access to the same information and was able to contribute to the decision-making process.
The book highlights the importance of building a shared consciousness within an organization, where everyone understands the big picture and how their individual roles contribute to the overall mission. McChrystal calls this a "team of teams" approach, where teams are interconnected and interdependent, and work together towards a common goal.
The book also emphasizes the need for leaders to be humble and willing to learn from their mistakes. McChrystal recounts several examples where his own assumptions and preconceptions led to mistakes, and how he had to be willing to admit his errors and make changes in order to improve.
McChrystal's approach to leadership was not without its challenges, and the book documents some of the resistance he faced from within the military establishment. However, he persevered and was ultimately able to achieve success by building a highly effective team of teams.
The book provides numerous examples of how the team of teams approach was implemented, including the use of daily video conferences, cross-functional task forces, and shared databases. These tools helped to break down barriers between teams and enabled faster and more effective decision-making.
McChrystal also emphasizes the importance of building a sense of shared purpose and values within an organization. He argues that this is crucial for building trust and cohesion, and for ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals.
The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing learning and adaptation. McChrystal argues that organizations must constantly evolve and adapt in order to remain effective in a rapidly changing world.
In conclusion, Team of Teams is an important book for anyone interested in leadership, management, or organizational effectiveness. It provides practical insights into how to build and lead a team of teams, and how to create a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability. McChrystal's approach to leadership is innovative and inspiring, and the book is well worth reading for anyone looking to improve their own leadership skills.
Overall, Team of Teams offers a powerful argument for why traditional hierarchies are no longer effective in today's complex and rapidly-changing world. By adopting a team of teams approach, organizations can become more agile, responsive, and effective. McChrystal's book provides valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to build a high-performing team of teams, and it is highly recommended
Details of e-book Team of Teams
- Author(s): Stanley McChrystal
- Title: Team of Teams
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 base on 2788 reviews
- Publisher: Portfolio; Illustrated edition (May 12, 2015)
- ISBN-10: 1591847486
- ISBN-13: 9781591847489
- Language: English
- Print length: 304 pages
- Categories: Business & Money
Jillian Neel
This book has given me many great ideas and even more practical advice. I see some reviewers saying this was mostly a general sales philosophy and outdated advice. If you're already on sale, this might be a re-hash for you. There are criticisms of the book that it doesn't talk about tools, metrics, and so on, and I agree that it's important.
Daphne Garner
As for the content, it is very informative and worthy of its fame!
Violet Tyler
It really gives another view of the world and, if you're not fooled, of marketing in general!
