There Is No "I" in Teamwork

"Leaders take eagles and teach them to fly in formation."
  --- D. Wayne Calloway

John Maxwell once said that the true measure of a successful leader is not getting people to work. Nor is it getting people to work hard. The true measure of a successful leader is getting people to work hard together. This is so true because leaders have to create an environment in which people see themselves as a single unit, the team, rather than as a collection of individuals. Building a team culture means stressing that mutual success matters far more than personal brilliance.

"Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there."
  --- Virginia Burden

After winning back-to-back championships in the NBA Red Auerbach, while at the helm of the Boston Celtics, shared an insight about his team's success: "When I first started coaching, people told me to put my five best players on the court. But I learned early on that this was not the key to success. It wasn't putting the five best players on the court that was going to cause us to win. It was putting the five players on the court who could work together the best. We won championships because we put people together. They weren't always our best players."

Like a good chef, Coach Auerbach understood that ingredients are limited on their own. The magic comes in how the ingredients are combined.

"The era of the rugged individual is giving way to the era of the team player. Everyone is needed, but no one is necessary."
  --- Bruce Coslet

When a team spirit is not instilled in a business, individuals struggle to "one-up" one another in an attempt to get in good graces with the boss. While a competitive atmosphere is sometimes helpful and productive in the workplace, it must be kept within the confines of the team concept. Putting one employee's numbers against another employee's might create a fun contest and is only healthy if the overall goal is part of a team goal --- that the winner contributes to the productivity of the team.

"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it."
  --- H.E. Luccock

Making sure that everyone has a team perspective is essential for steering your business toward the company's goals.

A story is told that a farmer, while sitting on his porch, noticed a highway department truck pulling over to the shoulder of the road. A man got out, dug a sizeable hole in the ditch, and got back into the vehicle. A few minutes later, the other occupant of the truck got out, filled up the hole, tamped the dirt, and returned to the truck. Then the men drove forward on the shoulder about 50 yards and repeated the process - digging, waiting, refilling. After a half-dozen repetitions, the farmer sauntered over to them. "What are you doing?" he asked. "We're on a highway beautification project," the driver said. "And the guy who plants the trees is home sick today."

When people don't understand the goals and the direction of the team, or even the team concept, they don't have their heart in the work. By explaining their contribution to the team's goals, they begin to appreciate the meaning of their input.

"Teams share the burden and divide the grief."
  --- Doug Smith

Begin today to encourage a spirit of togetherness in your business. Paint the big picture for all to see and explain the beauty of working together as a team. Communication goes a long way in developing the team that you want to have in place for winning customers, excelling through projects, and succeeding in the long run.

Product Showcases

Advertise a product showcase monthly for $100 or an entire year for just $1000. Get with the program and see what you've been missing!
Call or email for more details: 888-350-3357 ext. 201 or info@signindustry.com

Sign Industry News

Sign Industry Press Releases
What the heck is happening in our industry? Find out here...
Go Now --->

---