Learn and Grow: How teamwork makes the dream work
March 8, 2025
The now-famous “teamwork makes the dream work” was first coined by clergyman John C. Maxwell in his book of the same name in 2002. While the quote seems dated, it remains just as relevant in today’s work environment as it was 18 years ago. The actual quote from Maxwell’s book reads, “Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.”
Don’t be misled by the term “bad team.” After all, there’s no “I” in team and every member is in it together. Troubled teams have challenges with negative behaviors, lack of trust, low productivity, misalignment, and lack of vision and purpose. However, the sheer definition of team becomes its own solution.
A team is a group of individuals working together who collaborate on related tasks to achieve their common goal. Creating an environment where teamwork can thrive means forging valuable relationships with the colleagues within that team to establish a harmonious workplace. Camaraderie and harmonious relationships will shape a comfortable workplace where colleagues are helpful, motivating, and supportive of each other. In such an environment, it is possible for the employees to perform better at their jobs and decrease issues that deflate the team’s work spirit. When employees experience harmony, there is an increased sense of belonging.
As the pressure to fulfill responsibilities and meet deadlines builds, the dedication to upkeeping relationships with colleagues can sometimes take a backseat. Teams can place their own self-care on the back burner and put the tactical work needs first. While admirable and important, ignoring the importance of relationships can compromise the overall team performance in substantial ways.
It is important to keep the following tips in mind as we stay committed to sustaining harmonious relationships for the benefit of our teams:
Approachability
Collaboration is the key to diversity of thought and the generation of ideas. It is also the building block of solid relationships. Team effort is necessary to achieve a project’s success and while each member plays a part to make it work, it would be catastrophic if members were too restrictive with their time and unable to support their teammates. When peers need advice on subjects you have expertise on, provide guidance, coaching, or just a listening-ear to show support. The good news is, you too will receive it in return when you need it.
Respect & Equality
Staff members appreciate the unique capabilities and value their colleagues bring into the workplace. Demonstrating respect for colleagues and their differences creates a fair environment that reduces stress and increases collaboration—treat each other with dignity and respect. Teams evolve effectively when trust rises, and a sense of judgement is eliminated.
Accountability
Workplaces that base themselves on acting justly and taking responsibility for their own actions foster a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork. Accountability nurtures an environment where it is ok to admit and apologize for mistakes, and generates a learning ethos so everyone can grow. Actions such as these decrease conflict and promote workplace harmony, supporting teamwork and success.
Establishing excellent relationships with colleagues can transition your team from one that is transactional to one that is an outstanding, high-performing entity. When the team is invited to fully show up, use their strengths, and partner together in a collaborative manner, they develop loyalty to one another, their department, and the organization while achieving peak performance. This harmonious attitude truly inspires the level of teamwork that is needed to make the dream work.
We know teamwork is important, but how important?
Being a master of one or a jack-of-all-trades in today’s world does not bring about success if you are unable to work as part of a team. The importance of teamwork cannot be stressed enough. In the current economy, most of our jobs involve interacting with others, so, being able to perform well with your colleagues is key to attaining growth and success. In every aspect of our business at Yale, the diverse skills of our teams are needed to achieve success. Teamwork is an essential skill to help us accomplish our organizational goals and objectives.
Here are 5 reasons why teamwork is important and why it matters to you:
1- Teamwork benefits from differing perspectives and feedback.
A team environment allows individuals to bring their diverse perspectives to problem solving, which in turn increases their success at arriving at solutions more efficiently and effectively. The contributions of everyone are more valued when solicited in team meetings. The improvement in “Group IQ” is gratifying and shows up in decisions affecting the team. When all members of a team operate without undue hierarchy and encourage everyone’s feedback, people tend to be more open about their ideas. If you feel a sense of safe connection with your teammates, you will be more likely to confidently share your opinions and thoughts without fear of judgement, even when views disagree. Research suggests that such a climate of “psychological safety” in teams results in more engagement, creativity, and innovation.
2- Teamwork leads to learning.
Individuals have their own set of skills and strengths. When the whole team works as a unit, everyone has an opportunity to learn from each other. This process leads to resource building and enables the team to become better equipped to deal with new challenges.
3- Teamwork can improve efficiency and productivity.
One person working on a project is always going to take longer to complete it in comparison to the collaborative efforts of many. Efficiency rules when work is appropriately divided within a team, responsibilities are shared, and tasks are more likely to be finished within a set time frame. Good teamwork also enhances group outcomes and the measurable effectiveness of organizations.
4- Teamwork cultivates communication and strong work relationships.
Teamwork can be effective in building great work relationships. We do not mean that team members must be the best of friends. Rather, a great working relationship flows from the right frame of mind where you collaborate with positive intent, with respect, and active listening. Great team communication is founded on a desire for mutual understanding and trust. When working together on a common goal or deliverable as an integrated whole, individual members consistently encourage and support each another. Indeed, one of the most prized benefits of good teamwork is a reduction in perceived work stress. Camaraderie and a sense of friendship among team members are associated with the highest levels of morale and job satisfaction.
5- Teamwork brings an expanded sense of accomplishment.
When a team works on a project as one unit, the sense of accomplishment we experience expands beyond our individual achievements. Teamwork can fulfil the human desires for belonging and contributing to something greater than ourselves. This is yet another reason why developing teamwork skills is worth everyone’s investment.
C&T Scene: Showing Teamwork
Here are ways you can demonstrate teamwork in the workplace:
. Consider how achieving results can benefit you, your team, and Yale when you are given an assignment.
. Share information, thoughts, and ideas freely to make room for innovation.
. Encourage different opinions.
. Understand your role and accountability on projects.
. Be transparent and honest when problems arise and collectively problem-solve to meet your goal.
. Listen actively to show you genuinely want to understand what the other person is saying and ask follow-up questions for clarity and to confirm understanding.
. Share ideas to improve each other’s work.
. Don’t dominate conversations and encourage quiet colleagues to contribute their unique skills and abilities.
What are skills that I can continue to enhance to be a good team player?
Remember, teammates must be able to count on one another, and the highest compliment that you can receive from coworkers is that they can count on you.
Ask yourself – do I know my responsibilities, and can I perform these responsibilities with excellence? Do I demonstrate confidence in my abilities and can my co-workers count on me to deliver?
Your reputation to consistently deliver with appropriate skill level is what your manager and co-workers count on.
Traits that help to achieve this are:
. Excellent Communication Skills
. Active Listening
. Effective questioning
. Problem solving
. Using critical thinking
. Collaboration
. Taking accountability for your work
. Displaying honesty and empathy
We invite you to evaluate your current skill set for being an effective team member and identify areas of improvement. Then be sure to practice and continue to get feedback on your progress.
Source: