Ten Commitments for Building High Performance Teams

Tom Massey
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2005)
ISBN 1931741530
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (1/07)

The “Ten Commitments for Building High Performance Teams” has lots of valuable management advice packed into 82 pages.  Tom Massey, the author, heads each chapter with one of the 10 commitments needed for building a successful team.  The author promises in the introduction “The ten commitments outlined in this book will help you get the right people in the right positions to develop a focused, values driven, high performance team.”   Massey asks you to read the book all the way through and then read each commitment separately and incorporate it before moving onto the next commitment.  Each chapter also has a practical applications section that includes questions and activities pertinent to applying that section. 

The 10 Commitments are as follows:

     1. Commit to getting the right people “on the bus.”  Take the time to really think about the qualities, skills and needs that each job requires before making the hiring decision.
     2. Commit to getting everyone on the same page.  A team can only be effective if it’s has a common goal and vision. 
     3. Commit to creating a learning environment.  Investing in your team can create an environment that will lead to success. 
     4. Commit to sharing the profits and losses.  A team will feel vested in a business and strive harder when they can also enjoy the profits. 
     5. Commit to turning around poor performance.  Poor performance has to be turned around or it can bring down the whole team.
     6. Commit to dancing with “those that brought you.”  This is very important chapter on loyalty – yours, as well as the team.
     7. Commit to playing to win.  You have to be able to move your team through fear to develop a winner’s attitude. 
     8. Commit to growing through adversity.  Conflict is a part of team work.  Accept it and teach your team to work through it. 
     9. Commit to having fun.  High performance teams typically have high productivity, creativity and morale.  The bottom line is they have fun.
   10. Commit to playing large. It has to be more than just a job for a team to be successful.  Give them purpose. 

The book is written in a straightforward common-sense approach.  I highly recommend “Ten Commitments for Building High Performance Teams” for those of you in management or contemplating going into management.  I plan to immediately implement these commitments into my team at work. 

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