22 High-performing Teams do you need to be a team? Although the world needs many more high-performing teams, they are not the panacea for all the problems of the world and they do need time and emotional investment, so it is important to begin by being clear whether you want and need such a team and are prepared to commit the investment it will require. It is important to distinguish a real team from other sorts of working groups, to know when each is needed and for all members to have a shared clarity about the nature of the group one is in. I believe it is useful to distinguish teams from: Consultative advisory groups ­ where a leader has created a group drawn from either inside the organization or an external advisory board that he or she uses to inform and check out their decisions. A reporting and information sharing group ­ where divisional and functional heads report on what is happening in their part of the organization and share useful information with colleagues. A decision-making body where the work is carried out by others ­ this would include some boards and committees, but not all.