In many job positions, people move through a hierarchy, an experience that prepares them for managing a team. In certain professions, such as law, finance, accounting, academia, engineering, education, and healthcare, people may find themselves in a position to manage a team of equals. This book uses 50 simple lessons to show the reader, in concise and comprehensive language, how to manage a team of equals with intelligence and diplomacy.

Each lesson includes a brief introduction and examples from the authors' experience, demonstrating how skills can be acquired. This is followed by 6-10 action points for immediate implementation. Key leadership skills are revisited for the leader of a smart team.

The book teaches basic skills such as decision making and task allocation, as well as soft skills like delivering good and bad news to team members, and how to achieve broader goals such as building trust and developing your team. The authors also offer advice on how to take care of yourself as a team leader, how to develop resilience in difficult situations, as well as how to foster creativity and expand your skills for continuous learning.