“Some Truths About Teams” by John Maxwell

1. Teams involve more people.
With more people comes more ideas, innovation and energy. When one team member is struggling to move forward, others can step in to take the baton.

2. Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize her weaknesses.
One of the best things leaders can do is to staff for their weaknesses and focus on their strengths. Everyone can build on what they do best and not focus on their limitations.


3. Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal.
With a variety of ideas and options, teams create alternatives to choose from for each situation addressed. When one person might feel defeated or focused on only one option, the team can bring new ideas to light.

4. Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses.
While individuals may enjoy getting credit for success, it can foster pride. With a team, victories are shared and celebrated. When teams fall short, they can pick each other up and encourage each other to “fail forward.”

5. Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal.
With a set goal in mind and a team behind the movement, leaders must be held accountable to others. It is easy for individuals to stray from the end goal when times get rough. Instead, teams can work through the difficulties for a greater reward in the end.

6. Teams can simply do more than an individual.
“If you want to reach your potential or strive for the seemingly impossible - you need to become a team player. It may be a cliché, but it is nonetheless true: Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.”

If we want to win as leaders, we must embrace the value of teamwork. Teams go above and beyond what an individual can achieve. Then, as a team, we can celebrate the wins (and work through the losses) together. We challenge you to look to those around you and visualize your life and career without their support. We have the opportunity to recognize and praise our team, or to act like we are capable without them. While we may be capable, we cannot reach our full potential without our team.