Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius

Behavioral scientist Levy (You’re Invited) details in this entertaining and practical guide how business leaders can create effective teams. He chips away at conventional wisdom about success, arguing it doesn’t come from getting the smartest and most talented people in the room but from developing teams that work better together than members would on their own—what he calls “team intelligence.” After debunking common myths about leadership (for example, puncturing the idea that strong leaders must be aggressive alphas), he explains no two leaders are alike and urges those in charge to lean into the skills they have and look to their team to make up for ones they lack. To nurture effective teams, Levy offers tips like making sure objectives are clear, defining communication methods and sticking to them, and cataloging and leveraging members’ unique skills and resources. High-functioning teams need to develop trust and find “glue players,” he says, like basketball player Shane Battier, a key member of championship NCAA and NBA teams, who lacked some technical skills but excelled at improving his teammates’ performance. Throughout, Levy elucidates his insights with rich anecdotes, humor, and candor (“there is little to no evidence that MBA training will make you a better leader”). The result is a clear standout from the pack of leadership manuals. (Oct.)