The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork Dr. John C. Maxwell

The Law of Significance One is too small a number to achieve greatness.

Why Do We Stand Alone? Ego Insecurity Naivete Temperament

The Law of the Big Picture The goal is more important than the role.

The Process of the Big Picture Look up at the big picture Size up the situation Line up needed resources Call up the right players Give up personal agendas Step up to a higher level

All players have a place where they add the most value. The Law of the Niche All players have a place where they add the most value.

Correctly Placing People Wrong Person/Wrong Place = Regression Wrong Person/Right Place = Frustration Right Person/Wrong Place = Confusion Right Person/Right Place = Progression Right People/Right Places = Multiplication

Correctly Placing People You must know the team You must know the situation You must know the player

How to Find Your Niche… Be secure Get to know yourself Trust your leader See the big picture Rely on your experience

A sign of a great team leader is the proper placement of people.

The Law of Mount Everest As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates.

A Team for Your Dream What is your dream? Who is on my team? What should my dream team look like?

Growing Your Team Develop team members Add key team members Change the leadership Remove ineffective leadership

The strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link. The Law of the Chain The strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link.

Teamwork is not for Everyone Not everyone will take the journey Not everyone should take the journey Not everyone can take the journey

Impact of a Weak Link The stronger members identify the weak ones The stronger members have to help the weak one The stronger member come to resent the weak one The stronger members become less effective The stronger members question the leader’s ability

Winning teams have players who make things happen. The Law of the Catalyst Winning teams have players who make things happen.

Three Kinds of Players People who don’t want the ball People who want the ball but shouldn’t People who want the ball and should

Characteristics of a Catalyst Intuitive Communicative Passionate Talented Creative

Characteristics of a Catalyst Initiating Responsible Generous Influential

On the road to improvement… Find a mentor Begin a growth plan Get out of your comfort zone

Vision gives team members direction and confidence. The Law of the Compass Vision gives team members direction and confidence.

Aligning Your Vision A moral compass (look above) An intuitive compass (look within) A historical compass (look behind)

Aligning Your Vision A directional compass (look ahead) A strategic compass (look around) A visionary compass (look beyond)

Rotten attitudes ruin a team. The Law of the Bad Apple Rotten attitudes ruin a team.

Attitudes & Teamwork Attitudes have the power to lift up or tear down a team An attitude compounds when exposed to others Bad attitudes compound faster than good ones

Attitudes & Teamwork Attitudes are subjective, so identifying a wrong one can be difficult Rotten attitudes, left alone, ruin everything

There’s only one thing more contagious than a good attitude – and that’s a bad attitude.

The Law of Countability Teammates must be able to count on each other when it counts.

Countability Characteristics Competence Commitment Consistency Cohesion

How are you doing? Is your integrity unquestioned? Do you perform your work with excellence? Are you dedicated to the team’s success? Can you be depended on every time? Do your actions bring the team together?

The team fails to reach its potential when it fails to pay the price. The Law of the Price Tag The team fails to reach its potential when it fails to pay the price.

How to Pay the Price? The price must be paid by everyone The price must be paid all the time The price increases if the team wants to improve, change, or keep winning The price never decreases

Team Player Requirements Sacrifice Time Commitment Personal Development Unselfishness

Modeling Sacrifice - Are you… Willing to make financial sacrifices for the team Willing to keep growing for the sake of the team Willing to empower others for the sake of the team Willing to make difficult decisions for the sake of the team

The Law of the Scoreboard The team can make adjustments when it knows where it stands.

Keeping Score… Is essential to understanding Is essential to evaluating Is essential to decision making Is essential to adjusting Is essential to winning

Great teams have great depth. The Law of the Bench Great teams have great depth.

Honor & Developing Your Bench Today’s bench players may be tomorrow’s stars The success of a supporting player can multiply the success of a starter There are more bench players than starters

Honor & Developing Your Bench A bench player placed correctly will at times be more valuable than a starter A strong bench gives the leader more options The bench is usually called upon at critical times for the team

Predicting the Future of Your Team Recruitment: Who is joining the team? Training: Are you developing the team? Losses: Who is leaving the team?

Correctly Placing People Personality Passion Pattern Potential Profile Placement

Shared values define the team. The Law of Identity Shared values define the team.

Connection & Shared Values Glue A foundation A ruler A compass A magnet An identity

Core Values of a Team The personal growth of each team member The priority of adding value to others The power of partnership

Core Values of a Team The practice of raising up and developing leaders The proper stewardship of the ownership

Thinking About Your Team’s Values Articulate the values Compare values with practices Teach the values Practice the values Institutionalize the values Publicly praise the values

The Law of Communication Interaction fuels action.

Developing Good Communication From leader to teammates From teammates to leaders Among teammates Between the team and the public

When leaders don’t listen… They stop gaining wisdom They stop “hearing” what isn’t being said Team members stop communicating Their indifference spreads to other areas

The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership. The Law of the Edge The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership.

Teamwork & Leadership Personnel determine the potential Vision determines the direction Work ethic determines the preparation Leadership determines the success

Leaders bring out the best… Leaders transfer ownership for work to those who execute the work Leaders create an environment where each team member wants to be responsible Leaders coach the development of personal capabilities Leaders learn quickly and encourage others to learn rapidly

The greater the challenge, the greater the need for the many advantages that leadership provides.

Adding Value to Yourself Acknowledge the value of leadership Take personal responsibility for your leadership growth Put yourself on a leadership development program Find a leadership mentor

When you’re winning, nothing hurts. The Law of High Morale When you’re winning, nothing hurts.

High Morale Magnifies Everything It is the great exaggerator It is the great elevator It is the great energizer It is the great eliminator It is the great emancipator

The Four Stages of Morale Poor Morale – the leader must do everything Low Morale – the leader must do productive things Moderate Morale – the leader must do difficult things High Morale – the leader must do little things

Investing in the team compounds over time. The Law of Dividends Investing in the team compounds over time.

Investing in the Team Make the decision to build a team Gather the best team possible Pay the price to develop the team Do things together as a team Empower team members

Investing in the Team Give credit for success to the team Watch to see that the investment in the team is paying off Stop investing in players who don’t grow Create new opportunities for the team Give the team the best possible chance to succeed