17 INDISPUTABLE

LAWS OF TEAMWORK
JOHN C. MAXWELL
1. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE
2. THE LAW OF THE BIG PICTURE
3. THE LAW OF THE NICHE
4. THE LAW OF MT. EVEREST
5. THE LAW OF THE CHAIN
6. THE LAW OF THE CATALYST
7. THE LAW OF THE COMPASS
8. THE LAW OF THE BAD APPLE
9. THE LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
10.THE LAW OF THE PRICE TAG
11.THE LAW OF THE SCOREBOARD
12.THE LAW OF THE BENCH
13.THE LAW OF IDENTITY
14.THE LAW OF COMMUNICATION
15.THE LAW OF THE EDGE
16.THE LAW OF HIGH MORALE
17.THE LAW OF DIVIDENDS
 THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE
✓ The belief that one person can do something
great is a myth
✓ Behind an able man are always other able men
✓ One is too small a number to achieve greatness
✓ There are no problems we cannot solve
together, and very few that we can solve by
ourselves
✓Teams involve more people
✓Teams maximize leader’s potential
✓Teams provide multiple perspective
✓Teams share the credit for victories
✓Teams can simply do more than an
individual
✓Individual plays the game, but teams win
championship
Why do we stand alone?
✓ Ego
✓ Insecurity
✓ Naiveté
✓ Temperament

…nobody is a whole team…

we need each other…
 THE LAW OF THE BIG PICTURE
The goal is more important than the role
• If you think you are the entire picture, you will
never see the big picture.
• Leaders at the highest level understand the
Law of the Big Picture
• Everybody on a championship team doesn’t
get publicity, but everyone can say he’s a
champion
What ‘s up with big picture teams?
• 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
“no one of us is more important
than the rest of us” – Ray Kroc

When you see the big picture correctly,

you serve the team more quickly…
 THE LAW OF THE NICHE
All players have a place where they add
the most value
➢ The wrong person in the wrong place = Regression

➢ The wrong person in the right place = Frustration

➢ The right person in the wrong place = Confusion

➢ The right person in the right place = progression

➢ The right people in the right places = Multiplication

Start by finding the right place for you

• Be secure
• Get to know yourself
• Trust your leader
• See the big picture
• Rely on your experiences
 You are most valuable where
you add the most value

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
 …to accomplish your dream…
• What is my dream?
– Nothing much happens without a dream. For
something really great to happen, it takes a really
great dream.
• Who is on my team?
– A great dream with a bad team is nothing more
than a nightmare
• What should my dream team look like?
– Your team must be the size of your dream
Type of Challenge Type of Team Required

New Challenge Creative Team

Controversial Challenge United Team
Changing Challenge Fast & Flexible Team
Unpleasant Challenge Motivated Team
Diversified Challenge Complementary Team
Long-term Challenge Determined Team
Everest-sized Challenge Experienced Team
 When the team you have doesn’t
match up to the team of your
dreams…

… give up your dream or grow up your

team!!!
 How to grow up your team…
• Develop team members
– Enthusiastic beginner ----------needs direction
– Disillusioned learner------------needs coaching
– Cautious completer-------------needs support
– Self-reliant achiever------------needs responsibility
• Add key team member
• Change the leadership
• Remove ineffective members
 THE LAW OF THE CHAIN
The strength of the team is impacted by its
weakest link
 When it comes to teamwork…
1. Not everyone will take the journey
2. Not everyone should take the journey
3. Not everyone can take the journey
 Several things may happen when a
weak link remains on the team…
• The stronger members identify the weak one
• The stronger members have to help the weak
one
• The stronger members come to resent the
weak one
• The stronger members become less effective
• The stronger members question the leader’s
ability
You lose the respect of the best when
you don’t deal properly with the
worst…
1. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE
2. THE LAW OF THE BIG PICTURE
3. THE LAW OF THE NICHE
4. THE LAW OF MT. EVEREST
5. THE LAW OF THE CHAIN
6. THE LAW OF THE CATALYST
7. THE LAW OF THE COMPASS
8. THE LAW OF THE BAD APPLE
9. THE LAW OF ACCOUNTABILITY
10.THE LAW OF THE PRICE TAG
11.THE LAW OF THE SCOREBOARD
12.THE LAW OF THE BENCH
13.THE LAW OF IDENTITY
14.THE LAW OF COMMUNICATION
15.THE LAW OF THE EDGE
16.THE LAW OF HIGH MORALE
17.THE LAW OF DIVIDENDS
THE LAW OF THE CATALYST

Winning teams have players who

make things happen
 Three Kinds of Players

1.People who don’t want the ball

2.People who want the ball but shouldn’t

3.People who want the ball and should

 Characteristics of a Catalyst
1.Intuitive
2.Communicative
3.Passionate
4.Talented
5.Creative
6.Initiating
7.Responsible
8.Generous
9.Influential
 “Catalysts are not
consultant. They don’t
recommend a course of
action. They take
responsibility for making it
happen”
Road to improvement if you want to
become catalyst….
1.Find a mentor

2.Begin a growth plan

3.Get out of your comfort zone

THE LAW OF THE COMPASS

Vision gives team members

direction and confidence
Great vision precedes great
achievement
A team’s vision must be aligned with:

1.A moral compass (Look Above)

2.An intuitive compass (Look Within)
3.A historical compass (Look Behind)
4.A directional compass ( Look Ahead)
5.A strategic compass (Look Around)
6.A visionary compass (Look Beyond)
Make sure that every vision message
possesses:
1.Clarity
2.Connectedness
3.Purpose
4.Goals
5.Honesty
6.Stories
7.Challenge
8.Modeling
9.Strategy
 THE LAW OF THE BAD APPLE

Rotten attitudes ruin a team

“ Good attitudes among players
do not guarantee a team’s
success, but bad attitudes
guarantee its failure.”
Attitude….
It is the “advance man” of our true selves.
Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.
It is our best friend or our worst enemy.
It is more honest and more consistent than our words.
It is an outward look based on past experiences.
It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.
It is never content until it is expressed.
It is the librarian of our past.
It is the speaker of our present
it is the prophet of our time
 The ff 5 Truths about Attitudes clarify
how they affect a team and teamwork.

1.Attitudes have the power to lift up or tear down

a team
2.An attitude compounds when exposed to others
3.Bad attitude compound faster than good ones
4.Attitudes are subjective, so identifying a wrong
one can be difficult
5.Rotten attitudes, left alone, ruin everything
Most of bad attitudes
are the result of
selfishness
 THE LAW OF COUNTABILITY

Teammates must be able to

count on each other when it
counts
CHARACTER + COMPETENCE +
COMMITMENT + CONSISTENCY
+ COHESION = COUNTABILITY
 Becoming a better team member
✓ Is your integrity unquestioned
(CHARACTER)
✓ Do you perform your work with excellence
(COMPETENCE)
✓ Are you dedicated to team’s success
(COMMITMENT)
✓ Can you be depended on every time
(CONSISTENCY)
✓ Do your actions bring the team together
(COHESION)
 THE LAW OF THE PRICE TAG

The team fails to reach its

potential when it fails to pay the
price
 Truths about this law…
1.The price must be paid by everyone
2.The price must paid all the time
3.The price increases if the team
wants to improve, change or keep
winning
4.The price never decreases
 The price of teamwork…
1.Sacrifice
2.Time Commitment
3.Personal development
4.Unselfishness