The Leadership of Teams: How to Develop and Inspire High-Performance Teamwork

Teams are everywhere - business, industry, schools, hospitals and government. There are executive, management and cross-functional teams, as well as teams formed for specific tasks and projects. But when a team can succeed or fail on the quality and effectiveness of its leader, everyone will have a view on the leadership qualities that are most important. So what makes a successful team? And what can leaders do to ensure that their teams collaborate effectively and are committed to the right goals?

This new title looks at all aspects of teamwork, with a particular focus on the role of the leader, and examines some of the most common challenges facing both teams and leaders, including: interpersonal challenges; working in a global context; different roles in different teams; multicultural teams; and coaching and developing team members.

Written by experienced academics and practitioners, the book incorporates results from specially-commissioned survey on team-working, organized by Ashridge Business School, but also uses the authors' access to leaders and team members working in sport, the military, business and the charity sector.

Mike Brent is an Adjunct Professor of Practice at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult international business school, and specialises in leadership, team-building, influencing, coaching and cross-cultural management. He is widely published in the areas of influencing, coaching and leadership.

Fiona Elsa Dent is a Professor of Practice at Ashridge, an independent trainer, executive coach and author who works with a range of organisations and clients on a national and international basis. She is the author of 12 books and teaches and consults on a broad spectrum of leadership, personal, interpersonal and relationship skills.