Team Genius Book Summary - Team Genius Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Team Genius summary

Name: Team Genius
Rating: 3.8 (58 reviews)
Author: Rich Karlgaard and Michael S. Malone

Rich Karlgaard Michael S. Malone

The New Science of High-Performing Organizations

3.8 (58 ratings)

15 mins

Brief summary

Team Genius by Rich Karlgaard and Michael S. Malone is a book that explores how successful teams are created and sustained. It discusses the importance of diversity, conflict, leadership, and a shared sense of purpose in fostering team excellence.

Topics

Leadership Effectiveness Teamwork

Table of Contents

Team Genius
Summary of 7 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 7

What’s in it for me? Team up for success.

We’re all familiar with the myth: the entrepreneurial giants of the world – people like Elon Musk and Bill Gates – had to fight their way to the top, single-handedly and against all odds. And of course that’s the story we’re fed. The tale of one person’s trajectory is more engaging than an exploration of a team’s dynamics. It’s also easier to put one person’s face on a magazine cover.

But such success stories mislead. Behind each successful individual is a team. Indeed, good teams are at the heart of every thriving business. But what is a good team? And how do you create one?

In these blinks, you’ll learn

that there’s no “I” in Steve Jobs;
what the cast of Friends can teach us about teams; and
why you and your teammates should celebrate more.

With technology evolving rapidly, enterprises need maneuverability to adapt.

Technology is developing faster than ever; our world is increasingly interconnected; life as we know it may never be the same again – you’ve heard it all before, right? These days, we’ve more or less accepted that the world is changing, and fast. But have we learned to keep up with it?

Businesses that want to survive within rapidly shifting markets must have one crucial skill: Maneuverability, that is, the ability to change direction quickly so that enterprise stays afloat.

To get an idea of what maneuverability looks like in action, let’s take a look at Apple.

Back in 2002, the future of the company was uncertain. And yet, in 2012, as other companies such as US Airways, Enron and Adelphia Communication Corporation were struggling with poor performance and bankruptcy, Apple was worth a whopping $656 billion. How did they pull this off? Well, Apple had met the needs of changing markets by successfully introducing not one but five groundbreaking products: the iPod, iTunes, the iPhone, the iPad and the Apple store.

Time and time again, Apple proved capable of discerning what customers wanted, and acting on this information fast. At the heart of the company is a culture of risk-taking, agility and efficiency; employees simply wouldn’t dare approach Steve Jobs with a design or plan that was anything less than daring. This culture allowed the company to attract and keep talented employees through thick and thin.

Maneuverability, risk-taking and brilliant employees are the three key ingredients to Apple’s recipe for success. But what brought it all together? Powerful teams. What exactly makes a team powerful? Find out in the coming blinks!

Humans work wonders when we work together.

The Egyptian pyramids are one of the world’s great mysteries. Not only are they filled with strange traps and untold treasures, their construction is also hard to fathom. Our best guess is that they were built with sheer manpower: 10,000 workers built them over the course of ten years.

The pyramids demonstrate that humans are meant to work together. Teamwork is a common thread that runs through our evolutionary history. By connecting and cooperating with others, humans have made their own survival possible.

Powerful teams are built on diversity.

Even our pop culture is filled with stories of great teams. Think of Charmed, Friends or The Three Musketeers. Films and television shows that focus on the power of teamwork are often well loved for their portrayals of dissimilar individuals that come together and connect with each other. This is something companies can learn from, too!

The president of Nissan Design, Jerry Hirshberg, has taken this lesson to heart.

Partnerships turn ambitions into reality.

Lovers and couples embody the most natural partnership humans can form: pairs. Pairs are common in businesses, too – particularly in stories of success.

Although we all dream of making it big on our own, we often need a partner to overcome unforeseen challenges. Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz was determined to expand his business in the early ’90s. After opening a few hundred new stores across the United States, however, his company began to suffer.

Trios allow for an even more powerful form of teamwork.

Trios are a rare constellation. Why? Well, they tend to become pairs, by losing a member, or quartets, when another member joins. But when a trio is maintained, it can thrive like any other team. Trios often begin as pairs, but the way they gain their third member varies. This in turn can shape the nature of their teamwork.

The two plus one trio is particularly common. They often form after an original pair with similar skillsets joins an individual with different strengths to achieve a common goal. Take Walter Brattain and John Bardeen, for instance. Brilliant physicists at Bell Labs, Brattain and Bardeen made a good team. So when their boss, William Shockley, was tasked with designing a solid-state amplifier, he enlisted the help of the Brattain-Bardeen duo.

Teams of five to nine members are the most successful ones but require a discerning leader.

Here’s a question for you: How many digits can you memorize at once? Most humans can only manage somewhere between five and nine. And here’s another question: How many team members can you handle at once? The answer is the same.

Teams that range from five to nine members are the most effective, and the most common. Why? Well, teams this size are very functional. With five or more members, your team is large enough to elect an internal leader without their role causing tension or becoming redundant.

The start of any team should be celebrated.

What do wedding receptions, baby showers and New Year’s Eve parties have in common? Well, they all celebrate new beginnings. It’s something we all love to do, so why not celebrate the beginning of a new team, too?

In a team’s life cycle, the first and most crucial step is always the team’s formation. The way a team begins will shape everything it does in the future, so it’s worth considering the three factors that matter most: diversity, communication and size.

Want to see all full key ideas from Team Genius?

Key ideas in Team Genius

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Team Genius about?

Team Genius (2015) is a comprehensive guide to teamwork in business. These blinks explore the different forms of teamwork and how you can optimize your teams to keep them productive, motivated and innovative.

Team Genius Review

Team Genius (2015) uncovers the secrets of successful teams and explains why some groups triumph while others fail. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:

It provides insightful strategies and practical tips for building high-performing teams, offering a roadmap for achieving success in any collaborative environment.
By drawing on real-world case studies and interviews with experts, the book offers valuable examples and demonstrates how teams can unleash their full potential.
With its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking analysis, Team Genius transforms the sometimes dry topic of teamwork into a captivating journey that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Best quote from Team Genius

Here is the uncomfortable truth: Humans run to a much slower evolutionary clock than our inventions.

—Rich Karlgaard and Michael S. Malone

Who should read Team Genius?

Group leaders
Team builders and team players
Anyone interested in what makes a team work

About the Author

Rich Karlgaard is the publisher of Forbes magazine, where he writes a featured column, covering business and leadership issues. He is a co-founder of Upside magazine, Garage Technology Partners as well as Silicon Valley's premier public business forum, the 7,500-member Churchill Club.

Michael S. Malone, the author of the bestsellers The Virtual Corporation, Bill & Dave and The Intel Trinity, is one of the world's best-known technology writers.

Categories with Team Genius

Corporate Culture

Book summaries like Team Genius

It's the Manager

Jim Clifton

Gallup Finds the Quality of Managers and Team Leaders is the Single Biggest Factor in Your Organization's Long-term Success

Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few

How to Work Better Together

21 min

4.2

A Team of Leaders

Paul Gustavson and Stewart Liff

Empowering Every Member to Take Ownership, Demonstrate Initiative, and Deliver Results

11 min

3.4

How to Lead When You're Not in Charge

Clay Scroggins

Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority

17 min

4.3

The Ideal Team Player

Patrick Lencioni

How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues. A Leadership Fable

Working Together Without Falling Apart

25 min

3.9

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Use Storytelling to Engage, Inspire, and Share Your Message

Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life

How to See What Others Miss

Secrets for Commanding Attention and Getting Results

12 More Rules for Life

Uncovering Hidden Manipulations That Erode Trust and Truth

17 min

3.8

The 12 Traits of the Greats

Dave Martin

Mastering The Qualities Of Uncommon Achievers

How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do

A Short Guide to Remove Distractions and Get Your Brain to Do Hard Things

Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life

Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life

10 min

3.9

The Speed of Trust

Stephen M.R. Covey with Rebecca R. Merrill

The One Thing That Changes Everything

13 min

4.1

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

Jim Dethmer

A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success

17 min

4.4

How to Talk to Anyone

Leil Lowndes

92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

25 min

4.1

All-in On AI

Tom Davenport & Nitin Mittal

How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence

What You're Missing and Why It Matters

An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life

11 min

4.4

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work

The Power of Not Thinking

Simon Roberts

How Our Bodies Learn and Why We Should Trust Them

Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More

For the Sisters, Misters, and Binary Resisters

36 min

2.5

High-Impact Tools for Teams

Stefano Mastrogiacomo and Alexander Osterwalder

5 Tools to Align Team Members, Build Trust, and Get Results Fast

23 min

4.1

Millionaire Success Habits

Dean Graziosi

The Gateway to Wealth and Prosperity

20 min

4.5

How to Work with (Almost) Anyone

Michael Bungay Stanier

Five Questions for Building the Best Possible Relationships

Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.

The Formula for Sustained High Performance in All Phases of Your Life

Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience

18 min

4.5

Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Elisa Song

An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience

16 min

3.9

I Know What to Do So Why Don't I Do It?

Nick Hall

The New Science of Self-Discipline

18 min

4.1

First, Break all the Rules

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently

Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe The World

11 min

4.0

Bulletproof Problem Solving

Charles Conn and Robert McLean

The One Skill That Changes Everything

24 min

4.3

The Worry-Free Mind

Carol Kershaw and Bill Wade

Train Your Brain, Calm the Stress Spin Cycle, and Discover a Happier, More Productive You

16 min

4.5

Collaborative Intelligence

Dawna Markova

Thinking with People Who Think Differently

The Hidden Driver of Excellence

Discover Cultural Divide in Colonial India

The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers

Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead

17 min

4.2

Creativity, Inc.

Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

19 min

4.2

Discipline Equals Freedom

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.