Academic teams find ever increasing demands placed on them every year, and ironically enough, just when the stakes are getting higher, the teams have less time to get everything done. This means that today's teams have to function at levels like those of a world-class athlete. Team members need the speed of sprinters, the strength of weightlifters, the endurance of distance runners, the focus of major league pitchers, and the hearts of champions. World-class athletes use personal trainers to help them get into shape, and then to help them stay focused and continue to improve. This book is a personal trainer for academic teams. It includes a self-assessment to help teams gauge their current performance in all areas of teaming. Team members use the assessment to determine which of their skills need the most development and which skills need periodic maintenance. The chapters in the book discuss and demonstrate each of the skills in the assessment. Each chapter includes exercises that help teams develop, practice, and perfect their skills.