On-the-Fly Guide to Building Successful Teams

I enjoyed listening to the author. Anyone like me that really does not have the time to read right now and yet really likes to read, this is a good choice. His information on Team Building was interesting and applicable with any types of teams.

In this excellent book, author Bill Butterworth quotes Mark Zoradi, president of Disney's Buena Vista Distribution. His view of teamwork: "Don't think golf. Think football." Imagine. You've just finished your weekly staff meeting on time--yet the 60-minute gathering had that same familiar feel: BORING. A small staff that meets at least 48 weeks out of 52 will invest a minimum of $10,000 in salary time alone on staff meetings. Suggestion: spend ten bucks on this book to ensure your staff meetings have substance and will connect meaningfully with felt needs. If you've heard Bill Butterworth speak--you already know he has memorable content and a Pro Bowl delivery. He's also laugh-out-loud funny! His book doesn't disappoint either--and it's packed with team building essentials. It's perfect for that five-minute inspirational/motivational blurb at a staff meeting--or as an outline for a team-building retreat. Butterworth believes there are four great barriers to teamwork: 1) the barrier of personal insecurity; 2) the barrier of unhealthy competition; 3) the barrier of noncommunication; and 4) the barrier of being afraid to change. That's a month's worth of staff meeting topics packaged in an 89-page book--and wrapped in a hilarious, but poignant story, "Everything I Know About Teamwork I Learned at Carnegie Hall." It's quick-reading, but long-lasting. I read it last week "on-the-fly" and my fellow passengers wondered why I was laughing so much! In the book, he mentions that Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, takes an offensive lineman's approach to teamwork. In an interview in the Los Angeles Times, Reid pointed out, "Each guy doesn't have to be an all-star; they just have to be able to master their little [3' x 3'] box on the field. Then you can master that big box which is the actual football field. You take that approach to it, you'll be OK." So, here are two of Butterworth's questions (from the book) that every team member must answer: 1) What's your three-by-three box on the team? And 2) Can you describe it in one sentence? Buy this book!

I enjoyed the 88 pages of quality reading as much as I did the way in which Butterworth was able to intertwine a collection of pertinent stories. Each section of the book was backed up by a personal story told by the author that helped to demonstrate its purpose. Additionally, Butterworth continued to reflect on and develop the stories as he revealed the books academic points. The tone of the book reflected Butterworth's recommendations for teamwork as he invited you to be part of the story when interjecting questions to the reader prompting a moment of reflection. This book is a very enjoyable read with some terrific points for building successful teams. 5+ highly recommended.