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title: 40% of Your Team’s Effort Is Wasted. These 4 Methods Get Results
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# 40% of Your Team’s Effort Is Wasted. These 4 Methods Get Results

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by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Jun 5, 2014 4:01 AM UTC

by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Jun 5, 2014 4:01 AM UTC

40% of what a team does ends up as “process loss.” It’s overhead that wouldn’t exist if everything could be done by one person. Wasted effort.

Obviously, many projects require teams. **But how can you create, manage or be part of a team that is more efficient?**

I discussed the research behind great teams with [Po Bronson](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/teamwork-wrong/), New York Times bestselling author of [Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092XHOGE/?tag=spacforrent-20).

**Here are 4 things that can make a big difference in how effective your team is.**

## 1) The Formula For A Great Team: The 60/30/10 Rule

Po Bronson:

---

> “”

---

## 2) Sometimes Teams Are A Very Bad Idea

Po Bronson:

---

> “”

---


## **3) The Best Teams Are Managed… Occasionally**

Po Bronson:

---

> “”

---

## 4) Great Teams Need People Who Aren’t Team Players

Po Bronson:

---

> “”

---


More from Po on how you can improve your team [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/teamwork-wrong/).

**Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD).

Related posts:

[10 Research-Backed Steps To Building A Great Team](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/great-team/)

[5 reasons everything you know about teamwork is wrong](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/teamwork-wrong/)

[Creative Teams – What 7 elements do they all share?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/creative-teams/)

_This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._

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