Unbreakable audiobook cover - Building and Leading Resilient Teams

Unbreakable

Building and Leading Resilient Teams

Bradley L. Kirkman & Adam Stoverink

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Categories:
Management & LeadershipCareer & SuccessCorporate Culture

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Unbreakable
The 4 Pitfalls of Team Dynamics+
Building Team Confidence+
Crafting Teamwork Roadmaps+
Mastering Team Improvisation+
Cultivating Psychological Safety+
Adapting to Virtual Workspaces+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the analysis of the Mann Gulch tragedy, what are the four critical components necessary for team resilience?
  • A. High individual expertise, strict hierarchy, rapid communication, and physical endurance
  • B. Team confidence, a clear teamwork roadmap, the capacity to improvise, and psychological safety
  • C. Independent decision-making, competitive spirit, standardized procedures, and strong management
  • D. Transformational leadership, advanced technology, flexible working hours, and peer-to-peer support
Question 2 of 7
How does practicing and rehearsing potential challenges, much like a Formula 1 pit crew, contribute to building team confidence?
  • A. It eliminates the need for leadership intervention during an actual crisis.
  • B. It ensures that team members only perform the specific tasks they were initially hired for.
  • C. It builds agility and effectiveness, preparing the team to handle actual unexpected situations.
  • D. It creates a competitive environment that motivates individuals to outperform their peers.
Question 3 of 7
In the context of crafting teamwork roadmaps, what is the primary benefit of implementing 'shared leadership'?
  • A. It fosters adaptability and a deeper comprehension of diverse roles by moving away from traditional hierarchies.
  • B. It allows the primary leader to take time off without halting the team's progress.
  • C. It ensures that every team member receives equal financial compensation for their project contributions.
  • D. It eliminates the need for regular team meetings since everyone is already a leader.
Question 4 of 7
What is a 'transactive memory system' and why is it crucial for team improvisation?
  • A. A digital database that stores all of the company's past project files for easy reference during a crisis.
  • B. A psychological technique used by leaders to help team members forget past failures and focus on future goals.
  • C. The collective awareness within a team of each member’s specific expertise and skills, allowing for quick mobilization during unexpected challenges.
  • D. A structured brainstorming method where ideas are written down anonymously to prevent bias.
Question 5 of 7
According to the book, is improvisation always the best strategy for a team facing a crisis?
  • A. Yes, because standard procedures almost always fail during unexpected crises.
  • B. Yes, because improvisation guarantees that the team will come up with a highly creative and flawless solution.
  • C. No, its effectiveness depends on the context; highly confident teams often benefit from a balance between improvisation and persistence.
  • D. No, improvisation should only be used by teams that lack a clear teamwork roadmap and defined leadership.
Question 6 of 7
When developing psychological safety through peer-to-peer support, why is it important to balance supportiveness with space for respectful debate?
  • A. To ensure that the team leader always has the final say in any major decision.
  • B. To avoid groupthink and promote a culture of diverse and independent thinking.
  • C. To create a highly competitive environment where only the best ideas survive.
  • D. To document the flaws of individual team members for performance reviews.
Question 7 of 7
How can remote and hybrid teams effectively maintain their capacity to improvise despite physical separation?
  • A. By enforcing strict, unchanging protocols that all remote workers must memorize.
  • B. By building a strong transactive memory and utilizing remote communication to reduce barriers to free thinking.
  • C. By requiring all remote employees to work identical hours regardless of their time zone.
  • D. By limiting the number of virtual meetings to prevent screen fatigue and independent errors.

Unbreakable — Full Chapter Overview

Unbreakable Summary & Overview

Unbreakable (2023) looks at the strategies for creating and leading teams capable of enduring and thriving amid business challenges and uncertainties. It highlights key resources like team confidence, improvisation skills, and psychological safety, offering practical guidance for leaders to foster these qualities in diverse team settings, including remote or hybrid work environments.

Who Should Listen to Unbreakable?

  • Entrepreneurs navigating volatile markets
  • Executives leading diverse, global teams
  • Project managers in fast-paced industries

About the Author: Bradley L. Kirkman & Adam Stoverink

Bradley L. Kirkman is the General (Ret.) H. Hugh Shelton Distinguished Professor of Leadership at North Carolina State University. He is known for his contributions to the field of leadership, particularly in complex team dynamics. His previous work includes 3D Team Leadership: A New Approach for Complex Teams.

Adam C. Stoverink is an associate professor of Management at the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, and the director of Walton MBA programs. His research and publications have made significant contributions to the field of team and organizational dynamics.

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