Team

Lore & Background

The concept of teams was introduced into business in the late 20th century, followed by a popularization of constructing teams. Academic research on teams and teamwork has grown consistently with a sharp increase over the past 40 years, though societal diffusion followed a volatile trend in the 20th century. Differing opinions exist on the efficacy of this management fad: some see 'team' as a four-letter word, overused and under-useful, while others view it as a panacea integrating worker and manager interests. Many believe in team effectiveness but also see danger in potential worker exploitation through peer pressure and surveillance. Hackman notes that a truly effective team contributes to personal well-being and adaptive growth of its members, not just performance.

Reader's Guide

The team concept matters because it reshaped how work is organized across industries. Teams generate performance greater than the sum of individual members when mutual commitment creates synergy. Various types serve different functions: action teams devise strategies and execute actions; advisory teams make suggestions about final products; command teams coordinate instructions between management levels; executive teams draw up and direct plans; project teams exist for defined periods with concrete purposes; sports teams include players and support members; virtual teams work across space, time, and organizational boundaries using technology; work teams create tangible products and services. The definition of team as an organizational group is not completely set in stone, as organizations confront new forms of contemporary collaboration. Effective organizational teams lead to greater productivity, better resource implementation, improved decisions and problem-solving, better-quality products and services, and greater innovation. Teams usually have strong structured platforms and respond quickly to challenges. Communication is significantly important to team relationships, being frequent and persistent.

Did You Know?

• A team can include non-human members, such as horses, dogs, or oxen selected by transport logistics executives.
• The societal diffusion of teams and teamwork followed a volatile trend in the 20th century, while academic research showed a sharp increase over the past 40 years.
• Some view 'team' as a four-letter word: overused and under-useful.
• Virtual team members can be located across a country or the world, rarely meet face-to-face, and include members from different cultures.

Legal Practice and Florida Civic Engagement (2008–2017)

Keith Sonderling began his legal career in November 2008 as an associate at Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in West Palm Beach, specializing in employment and business litigation. His early docket included representing Palm Beach's pops orchestra and conductor Bob Lappin in a federal lawsuit alleging sexual impropriety, defending Florida Atlantic University in a suit filed by scholar James Tracy after Tracy was fired for claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax, and representing plaintiffs who alleged the Palm House condominium-hotel operators conspired to defraud investors. Beyond private practice, Sonderling became deeply involved in Florida's civic institutions. He also served on the boards of Morse Life Health System, the Jewish Community Relations Council in Palm Beach, the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Florida, demonstrating a sustained commitment to community governance that ran parallel to his legal work.

Federal Labor Policy and the EEOC (2017–2024)

Sonderling entered federal service in September 2017 as a senior policy advisor at the Wage and Hour Division, serving as its first political appointee. During that tenure, the division determined that gig workers qualified as independent contractors rather than employees, and Sonderling helped develop the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, which relaxed litigation and penalty exposure for employers who self-reported violations. He also coordinated the division's resource deployment to Guam following Typhoon Wutip.

Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of Labor (2025–2026)

After his EEOC term, Sonderling led Trump's second presidential transition for the EEOC alongside Janet Dhillon and headed the landing team at the Department of Labor. His Senate confirmation hearing on February 27 was overshadowed by the Department of Government Efficiency's mass-firing initiative; Democrats pressed him on personnel actions, and he stated he did not know how many workers had been terminated. The committee confirmed him on March 6, and the full Senate followed. During his tenure, Sonderling managed much of the department's day-to-day operations, particularly while Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer was frequently absent.

Roots, Heritage, and the Path to Public Service

Keith E. He is Jewish, and his grandparents survived the Holocaust, a family history that likely informed his sense of civic duty. The family eventually settled in the Boca Raton, Florida area, where he attended Spanish River Community High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad College of Law, completing his degree in 2008. His professional path moved from private litigation in the Palm Beach area to federal labor policy, reflecting a steady shift from representing individual clients to shaping regulatory frameworks. His community involvement—serving on boards for a regional health system, a Jewish community relations organization, a local chamber of commerce, and a statewide leadership group—demonstrated a consistent pattern of public service that preceded and complemented his federal career. This blend of legal expertise, community engagement, and policy work positioned him for high-level government roles spanning labor, commerce, and ethics oversight.