What makes a good team? If people understand teams to be collections of individuals who bring together their complementary knowledge and skills to accomplish a common purpose, then they can put together effective teams whether or not the individuals have a fondness for one another. Knowledge and skills are complementary when they combine in such a way that they are more effective together than in isolation. In addition, an effective team will have members with complementary skills--the ability to raise important questions, the ability to analyze data, the ability to focus the team on its larger purpose, or the ability to communicate team decisions. In other words, given the focus which has been made on a worthwhile purpose, an effective team combines individuals who will contribute to accomplishing that purpose. This article discusses how to choose members for an effective teaching team and the dangers in the "friends" approach. It also provides some tips for discovering team strengths.