FEATURE ARTICLE
The 17 Indisputable
Laws Of Teamwork
From: DATA MATRIX INC.
To achieve great things,
you need a team. Building a winning team requires understanding
of these principles. Whatever your goal or project, you
need to add value and invest in your team so the end product
benefits from more ideas, energy, resources, and perspectives.
1. The Law
of Significance
People try to achieve great things by themselves mainly
because of the size of their ego, their level of insecurity,
or simple naiveté and temperament. One is too small
a number to achieve greatness.
2.The Law of
the Big Picture
The goal is more important than the role. Members must
be willing to subordinate their roles and personal agendas
to support the team vision. By seeing the big picture,
effectively communicating the
vision to the team, providing the needed resources, and
hiring the right players, leaders can create a more unified
team.
3. The Law
of the Niche
All players have a place where they add the most value.
Essentially, when the right team member is in the right
place, everyone benefits. To be able to put people in
their proper places and fully utilize their talents and
maximize potential, you need to know your players and
the team situation. Evaluate each person's skills, discipline,
strengths, emotions, and potential.
4. The Law
of Mount Everest
As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates.
Focus on the team and the dream should take care of itself.
The type of challenge determines the type of team you
require: A new challenge requires a creative team. An
ever-changing challenge requires a fast, flexible team.
An Everest-sized challenge requires an experienced team.
See who needs direction, support, coaching, or more responsibility.
Add members, change leaders to suit the challenge of the
moment, and remove ineffective members.
5. The Law
of the Chain
The strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link.
When a weak link remains on the team the stronger members
identify the weak one, end up having to help him, come
to resent him, become less effective, and ultimately question
their leaderÕs ability.
6. The Law
of the Catalyst
Winning teams have players who make things happen. These
are the catalysts, or the get-it-done-and-then-some people
who are naturally intuitive, communicative, passionate,
talented, creative people who take the initiative, are
responsible, generous, and influential.
7. The Law
of the Compass
A team that embraces a vision becomes focused, energized,
and confident. It knows where itÕs headed and why
itÕs going there. A team should examine its Moral,
Intuitive, Historical, Directional, Strategic, and Visionary
Compasses. Does the business practice with integrity?
Do members stay? Does the team make positive use of anything
contributed by previous teams in the organization? Does
the strategy serve the vision? Is there a long-range vision
to keep the team from being frustrated by short-range
failures?
8. The Law
of The Bad Apple
Rotten attitudes ruin a team. The first place to start
is with your self. Do you think the team wouldnÕt
be able to get along without you? Do you secretly believe
that recent team successes are attributable to your personal
efforts, not the work of the whole team? Do you keep score
when it comes to the praise and perks handed out to other
team members? Do you have a hard time admitting you made
a mistake? If you answered yes to any of these questions,
you need to keep your attitude in check.
9. The Law
of Countability Teammates must be able to count
on each other when it counts. Is your
integrity unquestionable? Do you perform your work with
excellence? Are you dedicated to the teamÕs success?
Can people depend on you? Do your actions bring the team
together or rip it apart?
10. The Law
of the Price Tag The team fails to reach its
potential when it fails to pay the price. Sacrifice, time
commitment, personal development, and unselfishness are
part of the price we pay for team success.
11. The Law
of the Scoreboard The team can make adjustments
when it knows where it stands. The scoreboard is essential
to evaluating performance at any given time, and is vital
to decision-making.
12. The Law
of the Bench Great teams have great depth. Any
team that wants to excel must have good substitutes as
well as starters. The key to making the most of the law
of the bench is to continually improve the team.
13. The Law
of Identity Shared values define the team. The
type of values you choose for the team will attract the
type of members you need. Values give the team a unique
identity to its members, potential recruits, clients,
and the public. Values must be constantly stated and restated,
practiced, and institutionalized.
14. The Law
of Communication Interaction fuels action. Effective
teams have teammates who are constantly talking, and listening
to each other. From leader to teammates, teammates to
leader, and among teammates, there should be consistency,
clarity and courtesy. People should be able to disagree
openly but with respect. Between the team and the public,
responsiveness and openness is key.
15. The Law
of the Edge The difference between two equally
talented teams is leadership. A good leader can bring
a team to success, provided values, work ethic and vision
are in place. The Myth of the Head Table is the belief
that on a team, one person is always in charge in every
situation. Understand that in particular situations, maybe
another person would be best suited for leading the team.
The Myth of the Round Table is the belief that everyone
is equal, which is not true. The person with greater skill,
experience, and productivity in a given area is more important
to the team in that area. Compensate where it is due.
16. The Law
of High Morale When you're winning, nothing hurts.
When a team has high morale, it can deal with whatever
circumstances are thrown at it.
17. The Law
of Dividends Investing in the team compounds
over time. Make the decision to build a team, and decide
who among the team are worth developing. Gather the best
team possible, pay the price to develop the team, do things
together, delegate responsibility and authority, and give
credit for success.
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