Chapter Summary Leaders are required to build teamwork because it is needed for such key activities as group problem solving and achieving high quality. Teamwork is an understanding of and commitment to group goals on the part of all group members. Team leaders share power, deemphasize individual glory, and understand that power sharing increases their own power. The solo style of leader is the traditional autocratic leader in a bureaucracy. Leaders still play an important role in a team-based organization, such as being expert in the team process, being facilitators, building trust and inspiring teamwork, and enabling and empowering group members to accomplish their work. The enabling role centers on empowerment. A wide range of leader actions foster teamwork. Measures leaders can take using their own resources include (1) defining the team's mission; (2) establishing a climate of trust; (3) developing a norm of teamwork, including emotional intelligence; (4) emphasizing pride in being outstanding; (5) serving as a model of teamwork, including power sharing; (6) using a consensus leadership style; (7) establishing urgency, demanding performance standards, and providing direction; (8) encouraging competition with another group; (9) encouraging the use of jargon; (10) minimizing micromanagement; and (11) practicing e-leadership. Techniques to foster teamwork that require relying on organizational structure or policy include the following: (1) designing physical structures that facilitate communication; (2) emphasizing group recognition and rewards; (3) initiating ritual and ceremony; (4) practicing open-book management; (5) selecting team-oriented members; (6) using technology that facilitates teamwork; and (7) developing a team book. In outdoor (or offsite) training, a popular experiential approach to building teamwork and leadership skills, building self-confidence is the focus. Outdoor training enhances teamwork by helping participants examine the process of collaboration. The Outward Bound Professional Development Program is geared toward organization leaders. Opinion about the effectiveness of outdoor training for developing teamwork and leadership skills is mixed. Concern has been expressed that the skills learned in the field do not carry over to the workplace. The leader-exchange model helps explain why one subgroup in a work unit is part of a cohesive team and another unit is excluded. According to the model, leaders develop unique working relationships with subordinates. As a result, in-groups and out-groups are created. Members of the in-group tend to perform better, have higher satisfaction, and exhibit more teamwork than members of the out-group. The leader's first impression of a group member's competency plays an important role in placing that person into the in-group or the out-group.

The text identifies twelve (12) actions that leaders can take to foster teamwork (summarized in Table 9-1). Select one of these actions that most resonates with you and locate a current events or magazine article from the past year related to a leader doing this successfully.

Write two well-written paragraphs (about 250 words total) regarding the article you select. The first paragraph will summarize the important points of the article in a way that brings clarity and learning to all who read it. The second paragraph will include your analysis of the relevancy and accuracy of the article as well as how you may apply what you learned to your own leadership journey.