Creating Effective Teams

Creating Effective Teams Book Review

Wilma Ward Hampton

Liberty University

Abstract

Creating Effective Teams, written in 2016 by author Susan A. Wheelan and published by SAGE Publications, Inc., converses the notion that members of all societal groups, whether religious, educational, business and so forth must work together in order to be successful. The author presents this book as a practical guide for leaders and group members about building and sustaining effective teams. Wheelan (2016) notes since the beginning of human history, work groups have been formed to accomplish specific goals and tasks (p. 1). From these formations, many ideas have been generated along with ways to get the job done and the support of the individuals involved.

Wheelan discusses the difference between a work group and a team. A work group consists of members who are motivated to fashion a shared view of goals and to develop a well-organized and operative organizational structure to achieve them. The work group becomes a team when shared goals have been recognized and effective methods to accomplish these goals are in place (p. 2). Group development consists of four stages. Stage one, dependency and inclusion, members are dependent on the leader, relying on their ability to take charge. They have concerns about feeling safe, sharing point of view, acceptance, and sense of belonging. Stage two, counterdependency and fighting, the group starts to become independent of the leader. The group’s task of developing goals, values, and procedures during this phase tends to cause conflict; however, it is much needed in order to create trust. Trust can be lost and members can begin to feel unsafe if the conflict becomes personal. Stage three, trust and structure, increases the members’ trust, commitment, and participation providing the group was able to get past conflicts in previous stage. There is a focus on roles, organization, procedures, and positive working...