Extreme Teams: Why Pixar, Netflix, Airbnb, and Other Cutting-Edge Companies Succeed Where Most Fail - Paperback

by Robert Bruce Shaw (Author)

This book takes a revitalized look at how teams should work in today's business is driving real growth in some of the world's most innovative firms.

Every manager desires to have great teams around them collaborating together and running with the mission. Unfortunately, most of these teams have been built around outdated practices made popular by companies that either no longer exist or haven't been relevant in years.

However, a new generation of teams has learned to do things differently--things like hiring the right person instead of the best person; focusing on one priority while leaving room to explore new ideas; creating an environment where people are comfortable dealing with the uncomfortable; and maximizing profit by not making it top priority.

In Extreme Teams, take a peek into top companies and examine the teamwork experiments powering their results, including how:

• Pixar's teams use constant feedback and debate to transform initially flawed films into billion-dollar hits
• A culture of radical "freedom and responsibility" helps Netflix execute on the next big thing
• Whole Food's super-autonomous teams embrace hard metrics and friendly competition to drive performance
• Zappos fuels the weirdness and fun that sustains its success

From marketing to design to technology to product demand, everything has changed in business and will continue to do so. Why shouldn't the teams carrying out these changes undergo their own upgrades?

Front Jacket

Great achievements are almost always the work of great teams. But most leaders rely on decades-old ideas and practices about teams developed by companies that have lost their edge. Times change and so must our teams. Those who cling to outdated views of teamwork and team building will be left behind. So what do you need to do to create a team that can successfully face the challenges of today's world?

To answer that question, Robert Bruce Shaw examines the work practices of innovative high-growth companies such as Whole Foods, Pixar, and Netflix. These firms became ground-breaking leaders in their industries, in part, by boldly rewriting the rules of teamwork. Extreme Teams provides a detailed analysis of how the leaders at these companies think and operate-and, in particular, describes their approaches for creating high energy teams that deliver extraordinary results. You will learn in Extreme Teams - How Alibaba strives to hire the right people-not the best people - Why co-workers determine if you stay or go at Whole Foods - The benefit to Airbnb of letting its employees determine the projects on which they work - How employees at Patagonia have nearly complete control over their work and play hours - What Pixar does to avoid repeating what worked for it in the past - Why Netflix rewards average performance with a generous severance package - What will get you fired at Zappos-and it's not what you think Filled with success stories from some of the most exciting firms operating today, Extreme Teams will push you to think about teams in new ways. It is filled with pragmatic suggestions that you can use to move your team to the next level of engagement and performance. This is the book for those who want to go beyond traditional approaches to teamwork and build truly great groups. Robert Bruce Shaw is a management consultant focusing on the effectiveness of leaders and their teams. He earned his doctorate in organizational behavior from Yale University and is the author of numerous management books and articles including Trust in the Balance and Leadership Blindspots.

Back Jacket

Advance praise for Extreme Teams

"There is a new generation of firms experimenting with bold new ways of using teams, and in Extreme Teams Robert Shaw shows how they do it. Through his masterful storytelling and engaging analysis, Shaw offers revealing insights and practical lessons for team leaders who want their own groups to perform at much higher levels. Extreme Teams is a powerhouse book and a fascinating inside look at what it takes to be innovative in how we design and manage teams in the age of disruption. The stories alone are worth the price of the book; the payoff you'll get from putting the lessons to work makes Extreme Teams invaluable." -- Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the bestselling business classic, The Leadership Challenge, and the Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University "Putting together a great team may seem like catching lightning in a bottle, but the truth is that you can build one. You just need the right guide, and that's Shaw's Extreme Teams. Packed with real-world examples, Extreme Teams equips you with the priorities and knowledge you need to build outstanding teams that can disrupt your business in all the right ways! Outstanding!"-- Marshall Goldsmith, bestselling author or editor of 35 books, including What Got You Here Won't Get You There and Triggers "The best companies rely on teams to deliver the results they need. But too many leaders underestimate the creativity and persistence needed to design and manage teams effectively. Extreme Teams describes how innovative companies are pushing the boundaries in regard to teams. A fascinating study of innovation that vividly illustrates the future of teamwork. Highly recommended for leaders who want to create a culture that fosters superior team performance in their own organizations." -- Linda P. Hudson, Chairman and CEO of The Cardea Group; former President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc. and Chief Operating Officer, BAE Systems plc "Cutting-edge organizations are constantly experimenting with creative approaches to team building. Extreme Teams shares their success practices, and we learn how to fully ignite the performance and results of our own teams." -- Frances Hesselbein, Office of the President and CEO, The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute; Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning quarterly, Leader to Leader

Author Biography

ROBERT BRUCE SHAW is a consultant specializing in organizational and team performance. An in-demand speaker, he is the author of Trust in the Balance and Leadership Blindspots.