Harward Business Review - on Teams That succeedThe Discipline of Teams - Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K SmithGroups don't become teams because someone calls them so. Nor do teamwork values by themselves ensure team performance. The authors answer these questions and outline the discipline that makes a real team. The essence of a team is a shared commitment. The best teams invest a tremendous amount of time shaping a purpose they can own. The best teams also translate their purpose into specific performance goals. A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves accountable. The essence of a team is common commitment. This kind of commitment requires a purpose in which team members can believe. Most successful teams shape their purposes in response to a demand or opportunity put in their path. When purpose and goals build on one another and are combined with team commitment, they become a powerful engine of performance.