10 Books for Building Superb Teams

Teamwork is fundamental to ecommerce success. Even solopreneurs work with others — customers, suppliers, service providers, freelancers.

These new books aim to help leaders build effective teams.

Culture Design: How to Build a High-Performing, Resilient Organization with Purpose

Culture Design

by James D. White and Krista White

Combining decades of executive experience with a millennial entrepreneurial perspective, the father-daughter team shows how to apply design thinking to people, helping business leaders create the culture that best fits their customers and goals.

The Strength of Talent: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Profit

Strength of Talent

by Mike Goldman

Asserting that “if you want to scale your company, you have to scale your people,” Goldman, a veteran leadership coach and consultant, provides a five-step framework for assessing, retaining, and growing talent, including moving underperformers out.

Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius

Team Intelligence

by Jon Levy

Arguing that creating effective teams is the true measure of a leader, Levy aims to identify the skills that propel teams to exceptional results. Published just last week, “Team Intelligence” is already the top seller in two categories on Amazon.

In his bestselling 2021 book, “You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging,” Levy shares his methods for connecting with others that he believes are the key to success in work and life.

Team Players: The Five Critical Roles You Need to Build a Winning Team

Team Players

by Mark Murphy

On a winning team, everyone plays their position, whether the competition is sports or business, asserts Murphy. He identifies five key functions of team members and explains how creating the right mix of people eliminates problems such as pointless meetings, uneven workloads, and clashing agendas.

Built on Belief: Why Cultures of Commitment Are the Competitive Advantage

Built on Belief

by Matt Marcotte

According to Marcotte, “people — not products — are a brand’s secret sauce.” An MBA instructor on consumer and brand relationships and consultant for top global brands such as Apple and Tory Burch, he shares how impactful companies lead with purpose.

Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Great Leadership Begins with Self-Understanding

Manage Yourself to Lead Others

by Margaret C. Andrews

Andrews, who teaches an executive development course at Harvard, shows readers how to identify their personal leadership style and develop their abilities. Reviewers hail her book as “refreshingly practical” and “a masterclass.”

You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership

You and We

by Jim Ferrell

Human relationships are key ingredients of work and life, and crucial differentiators in a world where employees compete with machines. So says Ferrell, who uses storytelling to illuminate how business owners can foster connections, overcome divisions, and create community.

Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success

Unicorn Team

by Jen Kem

A “next big thing” idea needs the right team to make it happen. The author, a brand strategist with a background in tech, retail, health, and consumer products, distills her experience into a road map for driving innovation and building an exceptional team..

How to Hire: The Essential Guide to Recruit and Retain the Right People

How to Hire

by Clint Smith

This standout guide to creating a culture that attracts and retains the best workers offers more than the usual hiring advice. Writing for managers without human resources expertise, Smith, a founder and CEO, shares his experiences and provides practical methods for building a team of high performers.