https://morph4sys.com/tso?wpam_id=1
The Team Style Optimizer looks like a great
book. What can you tell us about it?
Sure. The Team Style
Optimizer book presents an assessment that team members and leaders can use to
better understand the different work styles on their team.
The book explains
WHY a clear understanding of the dynamics and interplay of different work
styles is essential for improving team effectiveness. It lays out WHAT information and insights the
assessment will provide those who complete the assessment included with the
book. Finally it walks the reader
step-by-step on HOW to complete the assessment and interpret the results.
Once everyone on the
team has completed the assessment and compiled the results, they can see the
different work styles they bring to their teamwork. Each work style has strengths and
weaknesses. Team composition - in terms
of the similar or different work styles among team members - also affects team
balance.
The book can help
leaders and colleagues better plan and manage teamwork, reduce misunderstanding
and miscommunications, and develop a productive rhythm for executing tasks and
accomplishing objectives. This type of
knowledge lets everyone feel engaged and enthusiastic about team collaboration,
and that leads to stronger team results.
This is a DIY
book. It requires no outside expertise
and allows teams to create greater clarity, alignment, focus and momentum by
understanding and acknowledging each colleague’s distinct work style
preferences.
Any plans to turn it into a series?
Yes, we do! We are
planning to create other titles as part of “The Executive Leadership
Collection.” We don’t have a specific timetable for adding titles yet, but will
create and add them as we find time to create high quality resources for
interested readers.
Can you tell us a little about your target market for the
book?
Our target market
for the book is anyone interested in reducing drag and friction that often
characterizes teamwork. Teams are
usually part of organizations in different sectors, e.g., business,
not-for-profit, government, education, etc.
Another way of
thinking about our target market for the book is leadership. Leaders don’t always have a title, but they
are usually part of a team or organization. We developed this book for those people
who want to help their team function better. They are the ones who realize that
while they have a solid team, stronger teamwork could make them amazing.Tthe
book can also help any member of a team who thinks they are not achieving their
potential better understand what’s going on “under the hood” when it comes to
teamwork.
What section did you have the most fun writing?
Writing Section 4,
Team Member Styles, was a lot of fun. Each of the five team member styles has strengths
and each has drawbacks. Setting that all out in an easy to understand way was
challenging and satisfying. There is no one right way to be a good team member
like there is no one way to be a good human. Understanding what each person
brings to the table is critical for effective teamwork. Knowing how to best
communicate with one another is also key. Being able to articulate these concepts
and informing team members that their mates aren’t intractable, they just don’t
communicate the same way is like handing these teams a gift. We are able to
help these teams we will never meet.
What inspired the idea for the book?
My co-author and I have
over seventy years of combined experience working with leaders and teams. We were discussing that the biggest barrier
for teams to realize their full potential is not in the qualifications and
credentials of the team members, but in their (in)ability to understand the
structure, mechanics, and dynamics of their unique everyday teamwork. We wanted to place a simple but effective DIY
tool in the hands of leaders and teams to enable them to raise their game and
bring to life the saying “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”.
How did you come up with the title for the book?
The title was the
culmination of the writing process. After we had nearly completed the content
and were happy with the results, we struggled initially to come up with a title
that would explain exactly what readers could expect when they open the book.
After a lot of brainstorming and some pretty mediocre ideas we came up with
“The Team Style Optimizer: Discover Your Team’s Natural Teamwork Preferences to
Harness Their Productivity.”
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when
writing The Team Style Optimizer?
One of the
challenging things was making sure to include complete explanations about
various terms and concepts. When developing, testing and using the assessment, my
co-author and I would explain things as participants asked questions. The same
issue arose when creating the written instructions for taking the assessment.
We needed to be cognizant of the fact that people using the assessment on their
own or with their team would need complete and specific instructions included
in the book.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
On our websites, www.morph4sys.com and https://www.sanaghangroup.com/ and
our LinkedIn profiles https://www.linkedin.com/in/avikroy/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-sanaghan-7075071/