You cannot do anything of real value alone. Team work is at the heart of great achievement. “Behind an able man there are always other able man,” Chinese Proverb.
As such, it isn’t whether teams have value, but rather, whether we acknowledge that fact and become better team players.
Think of one act of genuine significance in the history of human kind that was performed by a lone human being – none! No matter what you name, you’ll find that a team of people was involved. Hence, “there are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves,” President Lyndon Johnson.
Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the power of teams which has being evident throughout history, even till today’s modern business world:
a) Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas and energy than would an individual
b) Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize her weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals
c) Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal, thus devising several alternatives for each situation. Individual insight is seldom as broad and deep as a group’s when it takes on a problem
d) Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. This fosters genuine humility and authentic community. Individuals take credit and blame alone. This encourages pride and sometimes a sense of failure.
e) Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal. Individuals connected to no one can change the goal without accountability
f) Teams can simply do more than an individual
If you want to reach your potential or strive for the seemingly impossible – such as communicating your message 2000 years after you’re gone; you need to become a team player. Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.
By: John C. Maxwell, “The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork”
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc
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