
4. Take risks
Success demands a certain amount of risk. Teams sometimes grow too afraid of making a mistake, so they accomplish nothing. Yet it doesn't pay to become reckless either. Each team member should help the team make smart choices by balancing risks against the possible benefits.
Results of taking risks:
- In casting a film, the producers wonder whether to take a risk by choosing a singer who seems perfect for the part, but who has no previous acting experience. They decide "yes," and choose Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls. The film won an Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year, and Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
- In creating a new car model, the product team must decide whether to risk a radical new look or stay with tried-and-true styling. They come up with the Edsel, one of the great flops in automotive history.