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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Team of Teams summary
General Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman and Chris Fussel
New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World
20 mins
Brief summary
Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal is a business book that explores how traditional hierarchical organizations must adapt to become more flexible and agile in the modern world. It offers insights and strategies for creating a more cohesive and effective team.
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Team of Teams
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
In our complex world, efficiency shouldn’t be the ultimate goal.
No matter what your job, the concept of efficiency won’t be new to you. In fact, you probably use it even when you’re just arranging your pencils on a desk!
Efficiency is widely recognized as something worth achieving, and most of today’s organizations have set efficiency as their principal goal.
Even outside of business, our society is obsessed with efficiency. From organizing our leisure time and life hacks to the management of international companies, everyone is trying to achieve the best results with the least effort; in other words, they want to be as efficient as possible.
Our love for efficiency can be traced back to 1900, when Quaker Frederick Winslow Taylor laid the foundations of scientific management. By measuring various work processes in order to shave off every second he could throughout the production process, Taylor produced unprecedented results.
But in a complex world, efficiency does not equal success.
The rapid development of information technology has changed the world we live in. Not only has it become much faster, but also more interdependent, meaning that a seemingly endless number of factors interact to produce highly unpredictable outcomes.
Much like the theory that a butterfly’s wings in New York can start a hurricane in China, a YouTube video can start a revolution. In 2010, a man named Tarek protested police corruption in a small town in Tunisia by setting himself aflame. His cousin, who filmed the whole thing, posted it on YouTube where it was seen by millions of people.
These people then started their own protests, which eventually led to the end of the 30-year reign of President Mubarak in neighboring Egypt. This outcome was entirely unpredictable at the time of Tarek’s protest.
Taylor’s scientific management was designed for a world where an all-seeing manager could more or less accurately predict the outcomes of a given action. As our example shows, things are very different today.
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What is Team of Teams about?
Team of Teams (2015) lays out the many ways that even large organizations can benefit from the agility and savvy of small teams. By building a team of teams, companies can better manage the complex, interconnected issues that often mean life or death for a company.
Team of Teams Review
Team of Teams (2015) by General Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman, and Chris Fussell is a book that explores the challenges of modern leadership and why traditional hierarchies don't work in today's fast-paced world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a refreshing perspective on organizational structures, showcasing how teamwork and adaptability are key to success in complex environments.
- Shares real-life examples from military operations and business settings, illustrating the principles and strategies discussed in a relatable and practical way.
- Through its engaging storytelling and dynamic insights, the book keeps readers engrossed, challenging conventional thinking and igniting a desire for change.
Best quote from Team of Teams
We have moved from data poor but fairly predictable settings to data-rich, uncertain ones.
—General Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman and Chris Fussel
Who should read Team of Teams?
- Anyone in charge of organizing groups of people
- Ambitious entrepreneurs
- Anyone interested in working in a team
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Team of Teams FAQs
What is the main message of Team of Teams?
The main message of Team of Teams is that organizations must adopt a flexible and collaborative approach to succeed in a complex world.
How long does it take to read Team of Teams?
The reading time for Team of Teams varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Team of Teams a good book? Is it worth reading?
Team of Teams is worth reading because it offers valuable insights on transforming organizations to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Who is the author of Team of Teams?
The authors of Team of Teams are General Stanley McChrystal, Tantum Collins, David Silverman, and Chris Fussell.
What to read after Team of Teams?
If you're wondering what to read next after Team of Teams, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows
- Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet
- The Power of a Positive Team by Jon Gordon
- How to Be a Power Connector by Judy Robinett
- The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox
- The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick M. Lencioni
- Simply Complexity by Neil F. Johnson
- Leading Without Authority by Keith Ferrazzi with Noel Weyrich