Building a High Performing Team

George Roberts

January 14, 2010

This week we are at one of our expansion stage software companies that we invested growth capital in. They are new to the portfolio so we are working with them on our Extraordinary Execution Workshop to help them define their Mission, Vision and Values as well as defining their major themes for 2010. We use this as the foundation to help them build out their strategy map for the year to execute against and share with their organization.

openviewpartners.com/events/extra09.html

Now you might ask what does this have to do with the topic of building a team. As part of the workshop they have some reading to do in preparation. One of the two books we recommend is all about how to build a high performing team… something every expansion stage software company needs to build a great company.

The book is The Five Dysfunctions of a Team a Leadership Fable by Patrick Lancioni.

www.tablegroup.com/dysfunctions/

In the book it covers the challenges you face and the behaviors you need to develop, foster, encourage and hire to in order to build a high performing team which in turn will help you build a great software company.

Every founder and or CEO should check it out. The book is a quick read and is a great tool to help along the road as you build your team.

All the best,

G

Venture Partner

<strong>George Roberts</strong> is a Venture Partner at OpenView. He enjoys partnering with companies and helping them achieve their goals through strategy, focus and operational execution. From 1990 to 2003, George spent 13 years at Oracle Corporation, most recently having served as Executive Vice President of North American Sales. While at Oracle, George was responsible for over $1 billion in revenue and more than 2,000 employees, reporting directly to the company’s CEO and Chairman, Larry Ellison.