The Soul of a Team - by Tony Dungy

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mentor Leader and Quiet Strength comes a book sure to transform your team or organization!

For most people, succeeding in life requires mastering the art of teamwork. Whether at work, school, church, or home, virtually everyone is part of a team--and when they work well, teams can accomplish more than individuals working by themselves.

But not all teams are created equal. When a team isn't functioning well, individual strengths can be undermined and weaknesses accentuated, making the work environment a terrible place to be. So what does a truly effective team environment look like, and how can you create one within your own organization?

As a former Super Bowl-winning coach, Tony Dungy is an expert at building and bringing out the best in a team. Drawing on his experiences from years of coaching and working with other leaders, this football fable lays out four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams. Telling the story of a fictional NFL team looking for a turnaround, The Soul of a Team not only identifies some of the most common issues that hold a team back but also lays out a game plan for winning teamwork. Whether you aspire to be a better leader or a stronger team player, The Soul of a Team will show you how to contribute to a stronger, healthier, more productive team destined for success.

From the Back Cover

From the New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Strength and The Mentor Leader comes a book sure to transform your team or organization!
Everyone wants to be part of a winning team--whether at work, school, church, or home. But not all teams are created equal. When a team isn't functioning efficiently, individual strengths can be undermined and weaknesses accentuated, leading to conflict, underperformance, and an unpleasant work environment. When teams are functioning well, however, everyone benefits, not only in terms of games won, quotas met, or profits accumulated, but also through deeper personal relationships, stronger mentor leadership, individual growth, and long-term sustainability.

In The Soul of a Team, Hall of Famer Tony Dungy draws on more than 40 years of experience coaching and developing teams to explore the four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams. Using the story of a fictional NFL franchise in need of a turnaround, Tony identifies the most common issues preventing a team from reaching its full potential; then he lays out a practical, proven game plan for creating a winning environment that fosters continued success on and off the field.

Whether you aspire to be a better leader or an indispensable team player, The Soul of a Team will show you how to contribute to a stronger, healthier, more productive team destined for success.

From the flap:

Terry Hodges has a problem.
As president of the Orlando Vipers, he had expected bigger and better things from his team by now--if not a Super Bowl win, at least multiple playoff berths. But when a crushing loss against Dallas knocks the Vipers out of the playoffs picture for the third season in a row, Terry reaches his breaking point.

Are the players the problem?
The coaches?
Should he just blow the whole thing up--fire everyone and start over from scratch?

Unsure what to do, Terry asks his good friend, Super Bowl-winning coach and Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, to come on board and help him identify what the Vipers are doing wrong, then lay out a plan for turning the fledgling franchise around.

After meeting with the coaching staff and observing the team throughout the offseason, Tony quickly realizes the problem: The Vipers lack "SOUL."

What follows is an engaging and entertaining fable that explores the four key principles Coach Dungy believes characterize every successful team, both on and off the field.

Along the way, readers are treated to an unforgettable cast of characters and a unique insider's look at the inner workings of an NFL franchise as they come together to discover the soul of a team.