Team Players and Teamwork, Completely Updated and Revised: New Strategies for Developing Successful Collaboration

Chapter 5. TEAM PLAYERS AS TEAM LEADERS

It almost goes without saying, but let's say it anyway: the leader is critical to the success of a team. Our view of leadership has been changed dramatically in the past few years by Bennis (1988), Bennis and Nanus (1985), Block (1987), and Kouzes and Posner (1987). Leaders are people who create an inspired vision for the organization, communicate a sense of enthusiasm for the effort, and are honest and authentic in their interactions with people. But team leaders must also be effective managers (Wilson, George, Wellins, and Byham, 1994; Zenger, Musselwhite, Horson, and Perrin, 1994; Hackman, 2002). They need to see both the forest and the trees. Teams need to look ahead and to produce a quality product ...