Master Team Basics

I am a big fan of teams. Obviously I have a strong bias since I wrote a book titled, The Secret of Teams and the companion Field Guide.

So that got me thinking about why I love teams so much. Here are some of the reasons I came up with…

Teams allow people to maximize their individual contribution. When we’re part of a strong team, we can focus on our strengths. Good teams allow people to play to their strengths.

Teams can accomplish what individuals cannot. Here are a few fun facts: When Walt Disney made Snow White, he supervised over 700 animators. When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, he did so with the help of many assistants and other painters. And when NASA wanted to put men on the moon, they employed over 400,000 men and women to make that dream a reality. I don’t want to invest my life in something so small I can do it by myself. A big dream requires a strong team.

Teams create capacity. When a leader decides to empower a team, the impact is dramatic – not just in terms of results. Yes, results will improve. But perhaps of equal or greater value is the capacity a leader can create when other capable people put their hands on the rope. More people pulling in the same direction is always a good outcome. As a result, senior leaders can be freed up to do only what they can do.

Teams outperform individuals. The evidence is clear on this one. When a team combines their experience, education, passions, personalities, creativity, intellect, and their judgment, the results speak for themselves. This collective experience and wisdom translates into real, tangible results! Teams create competitive advantage because…

None of us is as smart as all of us.

Teams are life-giving. When a team is working well, there’s nothing quite like it. To be a member of a high performance team is one of life’s great pleasures. For those of you who’ve never been on a team like I’m describing, this may seem like a stretch. It’s not. When a team is comprised of the right people with appropriate, diverse skills and the team is pursuing genuine community, the personal benefits almost defy description. To be part of a group in which people know, serve, celebrate, mourn, and love each other is priceless.

I realize this list could be much longer. As I confessed in the beginning, I’m a big fan of teams! If you’ve not been part of a team that enjoys the benefits I just listed, maybe today is the day you decide to build one.

Why are you a fan of teams?