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dale_kooyenga's review against another edition
5.0
A quick read that every leader in the private or public sector should read. In clear McChrystal fashion it gets right to the point and provides great real life examples from theater.
A couple quick examples from the book.
As a matter of background a Commander will often select an Officer as a liasion to another unit or task force because they don't want them around. In other words "expendable." This also stems from the fact that Commanders tend to focus on their mission and controlling their area versus being part of an organization that dillutes that power (or the appearance of that power). McChrystal argues these Officers or Senior NCOs are critical to your organization and can yield tremendous benefits to the mission as a whole. Send your best.
McChrystal once sent his best to a highly classified group that included CIA, FBI, NSA etc.... The Intel types didn't respect the Army professional (which I also am) because it appeared they didn't want to loose control by sharing information outside of their sphere. Instead of getting angry the Officer just built relationships patiently from the ground up. Empty the trash, working casual conversations over lunch, etc..... Eventually he was in the circle and the Special Operations unit that sent him also benefited as did the CIA, FBI, NSA... types.
Fast, Good Read.
A couple quick examples from the book.
As a matter of background a Commander will often select an Officer as a liasion to another unit or task force because they don't want them around. In other words "expendable." This also stems from the fact that Commanders tend to focus on their mission and controlling their area versus being part of an organization that dillutes that power (or the appearance of that power). McChrystal argues these Officers or Senior NCOs are critical to your organization and can yield tremendous benefits to the mission as a whole. Send your best.
McChrystal once sent his best to a highly classified group that included CIA, FBI, NSA etc.... The Intel types didn't respect the Army professional (which I also am) because it appeared they didn't want to loose control by sharing information outside of their sphere. Instead of getting angry the Officer just built relationships patiently from the ground up. Empty the trash, working casual conversations over lunch, etc..... Eventually he was in the circle and the Special Operations unit that sent him also benefited as did the CIA, FBI, NSA... types.
Fast, Good Read.
jurgenappelo's review against another edition
5.0
Great story layered over extensive research. Must read.
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a little torn about Team of Teams. I loved the insights into military strategy and operations, and how General McChrystal's understanding of leadership principles informed and changed those activities. There were a lot of takeaways for me from this book, and I will use examples and insights from it in my management and leadership classes. However, as an exposition of the application of complexity theory, I thought it was a bit lacking in detail. There was a lot of what was lacking in the beginning, and later of "what we accomplished," but there wasn't as much specificity as I would have liked about how they journeyed to their desired end. In that sense, it suffers a bit from a malady common to many "been there" business and leadership books. It is hopeful, shows that complexity can be addressed even in organizations as large and unwieldy as the military, but does little to show us how, except in very broad terms.
Of course, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. My guess is that General McChrystal don't read these kinds of leadership books to learn what he needed to know and do in Iraq. Instead, I would bet dollars to donuts that he read source material around complexity theory and other techniques, consulted with experts, and built his own understanding of these kinds of things one piece at a time. Others will need to do the same. Nonetheless, it is a read well worth the time, and a solid view of the potential of organizations who successfully confront complexity in this modern environment, whether business, military, political, or otherwise.
This was an audible book, and I have to say, I found the narrator's voice a little annoying. He had a deep sonorous voice, which is fine, but somehow he made it sound a bit pretentious, full of himself, almost like he was "announcing" the book rather than reading it. He wasn't the worst narrator I've heard, but was far from the best.
Of course, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. My guess is that General McChrystal don't read these kinds of leadership books to learn what he needed to know and do in Iraq. Instead, I would bet dollars to donuts that he read source material around complexity theory and other techniques, consulted with experts, and built his own understanding of these kinds of things one piece at a time. Others will need to do the same. Nonetheless, it is a read well worth the time, and a solid view of the potential of organizations who successfully confront complexity in this modern environment, whether business, military, political, or otherwise.
This was an audible book, and I have to say, I found the narrator's voice a little annoying. He had a deep sonorous voice, which is fine, but somehow he made it sound a bit pretentious, full of himself, almost like he was "announcing" the book rather than reading it. He wasn't the worst narrator I've heard, but was far from the best.
gijs's review against another edition
3.0
In one sentence: the decentralization of managerial authority.
ppetropoulakis's review against another edition
4.0
The book was thrilling and based on real events. The common theme of decentralised hierarchies and decision patterns is not something new but in the military context, where hierarchy rules, it makes a big impact. All in all a great guide, my only complaint is that aside from the stories the few concepts presented were repeated too much.
rbogue's review
You never really know what you’re going to get into in a war. A young upstart country disrupted a global powerhouse in what we now call American Independence. The tragedy of 9/11 triggered a reaction from the United States that was quick and powerful. The nation decided that it would not allow terrorism to invade its borders. The results were a series of initiatives designed to bring about the end of terrorism. And it led to Stanley McChrystal being placed in the heart of Iraq trying to combat a different enemy and, ultimately, create a new kind of operating structure. It was a Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World.
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crypticpsych's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.75
trisweb's review against another edition
5.0
This is among the best books on business, life, and leadership I've read in my career. It combines history, case studies, new models and concepts, and an engaging real world story into one cohesive thread, and you come out of it with just the right balance of practical and theoretical knowledge. If you liked this, keep exploring systems thinking and holistic leadership, especially books on Toyota, Lean, W. Edwards Deming, and specifically The Leader's Handbook by Peter Scholtes. These are the kinds of ideas that will move society forward, and this book is squarely among the best on the subject of doing business in an ever more complex world.