The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork (John Maxwell)

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork (John Maxwell)

The following contains excerpts from the book, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork (John Maxwell).

At our music school in Odessa, Texas we believe that music is much more than sound, rather it is relationships.  Understanding teamwork ties into the subjects of leadership and how to motivate teams to achieve their highest potential.

This book deals with 17 fundamental teamwork concepts that will help build any team.  The basic premise is that the Leader’s responsibility in the team-building process is to invest into the members of the team, much like money investments, which over the course of time will yield exponential returns on the investment.  Once a person realizes that 1 is too small a number to accomplish anything of greatness, the necessity of team-building becomes more readily apparent.

Following are the principles:

1. The Law of Significance: one is too small a number to achieve greatness.  Why people sometimes choose to stand alone: ego, insecurity, naiveté, temperament

1. 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, and step up to a higher level

1. The Law of the Niche: all players have a place where they add the most value.  To correctly place people, consider this formula: 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. As a leader, in order to correctly place people, you must know the team, the situation, and the individual player

At our music school in Odessa, Texas we recognize that each student has a unique mix of potential capabilities that can be developed.  No two are the same.  Helping the student to identify and maximize their potential is the first step towards preparing them to be successful team players in their own particular niche.

1. The Law of Mount Everest: as the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates.  To build a team for your dream, you have to ask yourself: What is my dream?  Who is on my team?  And What should my dream team look like?

1. The Law of the Chain: the strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link.  When there is a weak link, the stronger members: 1) identify the weak ones, 2) have to help the weak ones, 3) come to resent the weak ones, 4) become less effective, 5) begin to question the leader’s ability

1. The Law of the Catalyst: winning teams have players who make things happen.  Catalysts are: intuitive, communicative, passionate, talented, and creative.  They are initiating, responsible, generous and influential.

1. The Law of the Compass: vision gives team members direction and confidence.  1) a moral compass looks above, 2) an intuitive compass looks within, 3) an historical compass looks behind, 4) a directional compass looks ahead, 5) a strategic compass looks around, 6) a visionary compass looks beyond.

Perhaps one of the greatest things we can offer students at our music school in Odessa, Texas is a larger vision of what is possible.  Painting a picture for the student’s potential may many times eclipse their own internal view of what they can accomplish.

1. The Law of the Bad Apple: rotten attitudes ruin a team.  Attitudes: 1) have the power to lift up or tear down a team, 2) compound when exposed to others, 3) compound faster than good ones, 4) are subjective, so identifying bad ones can be difficult, 5) left alone, ruin everything.

1. The Law of Count-ability: teammates must be able to count on each other when it counts.  Character, Competence, Commitment, Consistency, Cohesion.

1. The Law of the Price Tag: the team fails to reach its potential when it fails to pay the price.  The price must be paid: 1) by everyone, 2) all the time, 3) if the team wants to improve, change, or keep winning, 4) never decreases.  Team players must be willing to: 1) sacrifice, 2) give time, 3) develop personally, and 4) be unselfish.

1. The Law of the Scoreboard: the team can make adjustments when it knows where it stands.  Keeping score is essential to: 1) understanding, 2) evaluating, 3) decision making, 4) adjusting, 5) winning.

1. The Law of the Bench: great teams have great depth.  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.  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.

1. The Law of Identity: shared values define the team.  Articulate, compare, teach, practice, institutionalize, and publicly praise the values.

1. The Law of Communication: interaction fuels action.  When leaders don’t listen: 1) they stop gaining wisdom, 2) they stop “hearing” what isn’t being said, 3) they stop communicating, and 4) their indifference spreads to other areas.  Everything rises and falls on Leadership, and Leadership is Influence, but Influence rises and falls on Communication.

At our music school in Odessa, Texas we value relationships with each student, their parents and the community.  Giving a listening ear to those we serve by hearing desires, motivation, and direction helps us craft the best way forward for each student and the overall direction for collaborative involvement.

1. The Law of the Edge: the difference between two equally talented teams is leadership.  Personnel determine the potential, vision determines the direction, work ethic determines the preparation, but Leadership determines the success.  Leaders: 1) transfer ownership for the work to those who execute the work, 2) create an environment where each team member wants to be responsible, 3) coach the development of personal capabilities, and 4) learn quickly and encourage others to do the same.

Our overarching goal at our music school in Odessa, Texas is to bring students to a place where they are capable of continual learning, becoming autonomous in their ability to grow.  We hope to transfer our wealth of knowledge to our students to such a degree that they can then teach others.

1. The Law of High Morale: when you’re winning, nothing hurts.  The 4 stages of Morale: 1) Poor morale- the leader must do everything, 2) Low morale- the leader must do productive things, 3) Moderate morale- the leader must do difficult things, 4) High morale- the leader must do little things.  The most difficult times are #’s 1) and 3).  If the leader can make it through #3), it becomes much easier after this.

1. The Law of Dividends: investing in the team compounds over time.  A leader must: 1) make the decision to build a team, 2) gather the best team possible, 3) pay the price to develop the team, 4) do things together as a team, 5) empower team members, 6) give credit to the team, 7) watch to see that the investment in the team is paying off, 8) stop investing in players who don’t grow, 9) create opportunities for the team, and 10) give the team the best possible chance to succeed.

Maxwell does not include Team Chemistry, as he shows that it is a result of successfully practicing all of the above 17 Laws in combination.

One of the activities that sets our music school at Odessa, Texas apart from other learning institutions is our encouragement to participate in various ensembles, at a collaborative level of involvement.  As students gain master of their unique individual giftings, they then become strong participants in collaborative endeavors.  This deepens their understanding of what teamwork looks, feels, and sounds like at a visceral level.  Their participation in listening serves as an immersive experience in how to approach all subsequent relationships and endeavors they may be involved in throughout the course of their lives.