Leading a team is a life skill. Anybody can be called a team leader but becoming a skilled and effective leader requires time, intention, and the diligence to keep growing. Putting some effort into honing this life skill is worth the effort! Today I’m sharing my favorite recommended reads for a team leader.
Reading is one simple and flexible way that I keep learning. I don’t know about you, but as all the plans have been canceled these past weeks, I’ve had the chance to dig into a few good books. (Ok, most of those books have been interrupted by UNO games with my two kiddos, but I love how books allow for flexible learning! )
As I think about leadership and team, here are a few that I often find myself returning to and referencing:
1. Encouragement, by Larry Crab
Encouragement is more than a compliment or pat on the back. Learn about the power of our words and how they affect our customers, coworkers, and even ourselves. This book includes practical tips on how to utilize the power of encouragement, cultivate active listening skills, and ways to move beyond superficial smiles and shallow greetings. Most people want to be part of a life-giving and motivated team. It is up to leaders to promote and lead into this kind of team culture.
This book is a resource for team leaders who want to be intentional about the words that are spoken and the culture they are creating. This book is also an excellent team discussion starter on how to use encouragement to empower the people we interact with.
“Everything is wrong with insincere and predictably shallow words.” – Larry Crab,
2. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
In story form, Patrick Lencioni illustrates 5 common dysfunctions on a business team. I have often seen how the Absence of Trust and the Fear of Conflict causes teams to get stuck in unhealthy cycles. Learn how to identify and address the common dysfunctions that many teams face.
This book is a great read for team leaders who want to become more proficient at recognizing and addressing challenges on the team. Get ideas on how to intentionally create a culture of trust, have healthy conflict around ideas, and create a highly functional team. This is also a great book to read and discuss as a team.
“Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.” Patrick Lencioni
3. The Ideal Team Player, by Patrick Lencioni
Employee turnover costs companies a significant amount every year. In this book, Patrick Lencioni highlights three things that help you identify, hire, and develop the people you should have on your team.
This book is helpful in defining clear expectations for employees so that they know how to be a champion at work. It gives practical insights into how to develop humility, hunger, and smarts with the people on your team. This is a great book to read and have honest conversation as a team.
“Great team players lack excessive ego or concerns about status. They are quick to point out the contributions of others and slow to seek attention for their own. They share credit, emphasize team over self, and define success collectively rather than individually. It is no great surprise, then, that humility is the single greatest and most indispensable attribute of being a team player.” – Patrick Lencioni
4. Sticky Teams, by Larry Osborne
In the book Sticky Teams, Larry Osborne writes specifically to pastors, but the majority of his book can be applied to any team that you are a part of. Larry illustrates how there are 4 different types of teams.
- The track star is a solo leader, often an entrepreneur, who can be compared to a high jumper or sprinter. He may work with others, but often prefers to work alone.
- Golfing buddies describe the dynamics of a small team leaders who enjoy a highly relational personable environment.
- A basket ball team is thought of as a team sport not a friendship sport. It requires working together, and trusting each other, but not everyone is expected to be your best friend. There are too many members for that.
- On a football team there are highly specialized roles, the offence and defense ride on separate buses, and some team members hardly know each other.
As a team grows and changes, intentional methods of communication, function, and structure also need to change to continue being successful. This book is helpful for team leaders to identify their type of team and the growth transitions they face.
“Never forget, growth changes everything.” – Larry Osbourne
One last thing, as you read these books don’t forget to bring the rest of your team in on the journey of learning. Healthy teams embrace the process of learning and growth together. Initiate reading chapter by chapter with someone else on the team, start a team book discussion group, or highlight a few intentional questions/thoughts that you want to bring up for discussion at your next meeting.
Are you interested in taking your team leadership skills even further? Schedule your free 1-1 Leader Coaching Session here.
Cheers to learning!
When you get a chance read those books mentioned. Very helpful in gaining insights to working on a team
Thanks so much for the blog post. Much obliged.
Greetings! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to
give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading your blog posts.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same
topics? Thank you!
Highly energetic blog, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
I value the blog.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.