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Teamwork 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know

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Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships. Let John C. Maxwell teach you how teamwork is the heart of great achievement in the game of business.

Teamwork is a vital part of success in sports, pop culture, and every other industry--including business. In this essential guidebook, New York Times bestselling author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell explains why teamwork is so critical   and shows you how to prioritize teamwork and collaboration to achieve winning results.

In Teamwork 101, you’ll learn how to:


build a team that lasts;
create positive energy on the team;
harness a team's creativity;
identify weak players who negatively impact your team;
and judge if your team can accomplish the dream.
You’ll also discover how a winning team is self-fulfilling fuel: because everyone wants to be part of the winning team, you’ll continue to attract only the best talent--and stay on top. A great team is the key to great results--for individual employees, leaders, and the company as a whole.

Teamwork 101 demonstrates how to build and maintain one for yourself so you can leverage the benefits--and fun--of exceptional teamwork.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

127 people are currently reading
962 people want to read

About the author

John C. Maxwell

998 books5,841 followers
John Calvin Maxwell is an American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Some of his books have been on the New York Times Best Seller List.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Jonathan Seger.
113 reviews10 followers
November 10, 2013
Good book with some helpful pointers that I want to implement on my team at work. However, there's nothing extraordinary about this book. I'll probably review my notes often, but won't reread the book again.
Profile Image for Elle.
594 reviews
February 18, 2024
Noteworthy:

Chp 4: How to Develop a Team:

1. Place a high value on people
2. Commit resources to develop people
3. Place a high value on leadership
4. Look for potential leaders (Eagles)

1. They make things happen
2. They see opportunities
3. They influence the opinion and attitudes of others.
4. They add value to you.
5. They draw winners to them.
6. They equip other eagles to lead.
7. They provide ideas to help the organization.
8. They possess an uncommonly great attitude.
9. They live up to their commitments.
10. They show fierce loyalty to the organization and the leader.

5. Know and respect your people
6. Provide your people with leadership.
opportunities
7. Reward leadership initiative
8. Provide a safe environment where people
ask questions, share ideas, and take risks
9. Grow with your people
10. Draw people with high potential into your
inner circle
11. Commit yourself to developing a leadership team
12. Unleash your leaders to lead

Chp 5: Characteristics of a Team:
1.Team members care for one another
2. Team members know what is important
3. Team members communicate with one another
4. Team members grow together
Teams fit

Chp 6: What it means to be a Team Player
1. Be generous
2. Avoid internal politics
3. Display loyalty
4. Value interdependence over independence

Chp 7: Building a Team
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 with responsibility and authority
6. Give credit for success to the team
7. Watch to see the investment in the team is paying off
8. Stop your investment in players who do not grow
9. Create new opportunities for the team
10. Give the team the best possible chance to succeed

2h, 19m
Profile Image for Jacob O'connor.
1,647 reviews26 followers
May 24, 2021
You can’t beat John Maxwell for the fundamentals


Notes:

Hardback

Nothing of significance was ever achieved by an individual acting alone (4)

Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect (19)

Create teams that create community (23)

Adding value to others adds value to you (25)

As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates (27)

Focus on the team, not the dream (35)


Remove ineffective members (39)

Create an environment that unleashes new leaders (41)

each team member plays a specific role (67)

What does it mean to be a team player? (75)

The best players put the team first (75)

Cultivating selflessness
1B generous
2 avoid internal politics
3 display loyalty
4. Value interdependence over independence

To become more selfless (81
Promote someone other than yourself
take a subordinate role
Give secretly


5. Empower team members with responsibility and authority… This raises up leaders for the team
6. Give credit for success to the team… This lifts the morale of the team
7. Watch to see that the investment in the team is paying off… This brings accountability to the team (87)

3. Not everyone can take the journey
*space they can’t keep pace with other team members
They don’t grow in their area of responsibility
They don’t see the big picture
They won’t work on personal weaknesses
They won’t work with the rest of the team
They can’t fulfill expectations for their area (94)

Train them or trade them. Somebody who is a weak link on your team might be capable of becoming a star on another team. You need to give that person an opportunity to find his level somewhere else (95)

The impact of a weak link
1. The stronger members identify the week 1
2. The stronger members have to help the week one
3. The stronger members come to resent the week 1
4. The stronger members become less effective
5. The stronger members question the leaders ability

If your goal is to beat your peers then you will never influence them 103)

Ultimately, the angels had to coax lot to leave six times:
1. The “urged” him.
2. They told him to “get up.”
3 they told him to “take your wife.”
4. they “seized his hand.”
5. They “brought him out.”
6. The “left” him outside the city (228)
Profile Image for Francesc Borrull.
Author 1 book4 followers
June 30, 2024
"Teamwork 101" by John C. Maxwell is a concise guide on the fundamentals of effective teamwork. In this book, Maxwell, a renowned leadership expert, outlines essential principles and practices that contribute to building and maintaining successful teams. Key points covered include:

1. The Importance of Teamwork: Maxwell emphasizes that teamwork is crucial for achieving goals that are too large or complex for individuals to accomplish alone.
2. Qualities of an Effective Team: The book discusses the characteristics of high-performing teams, such as trust, communication, commitment, and a shared vision.
3. Role of the Leader: Maxwell highlights the leader's responsibility in fostering a positive team environment, providing clear direction, and motivating team members.
4. Team Dynamics: The book explores how team members can work together harmoniously, leveraging diverse skills and strengths to enhance overall performance.
5. Overcoming Challenges: Maxwell offers strategies for addressing common obstacles in teamwork, such as conflicts, lack of cohesion, and ineffective communication.

Overall, "Teamwork 101" serves as a practical and straightforward guide for anyone looking to improve their team's efficiency and effectiveness, whether in a business, sports, or any collaborative setting.
Profile Image for Luis Detlefsen.
34 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2021
Brief introduction on the impact of teamwork, and why we should avoid the mentality of becoming super heroes who can do everything.

A team is a good team as long as its members are growing, all ideas are heard, there is healthy competition, a sense of community, an adequate challenge, and each member is working towards a common goal.

There are moments of tension in all relationships, so there will be disagreements. A team that has solid foundations knows how to deal with these situations and finds value in difference of opinions. The team should be able to discuss the ideas, not attack the person, and resolve conflicts without dissolving relationships.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nguyen Huu Anh Vu.
142 reviews11 followers
January 8, 2020
4 sao vì copy lại nguyên chương từ "Trang bị 101" và "Mối quan hệ 101". Mấy sách trong series này copy nhau :D

Đọc xong ngẫm lại ở xã hội mình sao đi ngược lại với sách quá. Mọi người ai cũng chỉ nghĩ về cái lợi cho mình, ít vì người khác, luôn muốn thể hiện bản thân, cạnh tranh (không lành mạnh) trong nội bộ... để rồi rước lấy những kết quả tiêu cực vào người.

Tất nhiên cũng có những người với suy nghĩ lãnh đạo thật sự. Họ giúp người khác vì họ quan tâm thật sự chứ không vì lợi ích cá nhân. Học đặt công việc, đội nhóm lên trước. Tạo cơ hội cho người khác trổ tài. Xây dựng 1 đội nhóm phù hợp theo thử thách. Dẫn đến công việc được hoàn thành xuất sắc.

Bản thân mình may mắn đươc gặp 1 người lãnh đạo như vậy. Vô tay họ tự dưng thấy mình giỏi hơn hẳn. Tuy người ấy ít đọc sách nhưng những điều ghi trong sách này đa phần đều có cả.
1 review
April 22, 2020
John C. Maxwell is thorough on his perception of what constitute Teamwork and I agree with him much. Team members care for one another and know what is important to the team and put personality aside for the purpose of the team. Team members must do things together as a team like attend functions, activities, plays and so forth to build unity, confidence, trust, communication, growth, partnership and respect. John C. Maxwell has given sight as a strategic writer to entrepreneurs in order for them to excel in their endeavors. It takes discipline and commitment.
Profile Image for Yani Germoso.
37 reviews
July 19, 2022
Este libro es una guía sobre cómo organizar y hacer funcionar de manera óptima distintos tipos de equipos, pero sobre todo equipos organizacionales. Explica desde la importancia de un buen trabajo en equipo, su impacto, hacerlos alcanzar los sueños, hacer que su desarrollo perdure, sus características, lo que es ser un buen compañero, cómo establecer un equipo ganador, lo que lo puede afectar, el desarrollo de una energía positiva y aprovechar la creatividad del mismo, entre otras pautas. Es un libro cortito, cómodo de leer y altamente satisfactorio.
Profile Image for Affan Yunus.
105 reviews3 followers
October 8, 2020
This book is absolutely for people who really wants to know on how to build the teamwork values among his friends or his colleagues. After I read the whole book, now I knew that teamwork can gave us lots of winning games rather than working alone.

Clearly, right now I can see the importance of buliding teamwork by a person who are called: Leader.

Last but not least, the book is really handy & I like it a lot!
Profile Image for Amy.
10 reviews
January 18, 2021
I've worked in some sort of team environment for most of my professional life - anything I've ever done has been part of some kind of team. This book has some EXCELLENT advice when it comes to working with a team, especially when you're not only part of the team, but part of the Lead role. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in building their own skills and the best way to work with your team!
Profile Image for Phuongvu.
555 reviews89 followers
April 10, 2019
Vẫn nằm trong series 101 của John Maxwell. Mỏng nhỏ và dễ đọc Làm việc nhóm rất cần thiết để đọc, hiểu và áp dụng. Khi mình biết đặt lợi ích của nhóm lên trên lợi ích của cá nhân đó là lúc mình tìm thấy những người bạn thực sự và nâng tầm ảnh hưởng của mình lên người khác.
Profile Image for Robin.
560 reviews
October 16, 2020
I listened to this after his more in-depth 17 Laws of Leadership. I think I’d have been better switching them. However, though not as in-depth, this is more cohesive and I was able to get a fuller picture of teamwork from it. Now, I’d recommend that you go read the other one!
269 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2022
Another Maxwell volume that offers good suggestions and ideas about team building. Overall, I enjoyed this book, though a little repetitive at times, it contained lots of ideas that could be implemented right away.

It also offers a pulse on what strong team's heart should be beating.
Profile Image for Mason I..
108 reviews
January 29, 2024
Finished book 6 from the 101 Collection! This one was honestly amazing—a side of John Maxwell’s teachings I haven’t really seen much of, yet one I’m really working on improving in my own life :)

Definitely gonna be revisiting this one, as well as the Laws book on the same subject :)
Profile Image for Carolyn Spencer.
29 reviews
May 26, 2025
Listened to the audiobook during a drive. While I wasn’t 100% captivated I did pick up some good nuggets and useful advice. Seemed like a lot of repetition though. Good book to brush up on some general concepts.
Profile Image for Stephen.
Author 4 books57 followers
October 10, 2017
READ OCT 2017

Nice primer on teamwork and team leadership.
Profile Image for Dale Critchley.
Author 4 books5 followers
March 11, 2019
Another great short summary that's worth reviewing every few years as a self-evaluation.
Profile Image for Sappho.
10 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2019
Nicely written although the Everest analogy is outdated.
Profile Image for Ram M Srinivas.
91 reviews2 followers
February 19, 2020
Awesome book for beginners with good examples and direct to the point. Definitely a must read management book for one's personal growth.
Profile Image for Estela.
216 reviews
July 9, 2020
Who doesn't enjoy John Maxwell's work? This book was a quick read and very informative. Maxwell's advice in this book is helpful and useful to anyone who works or deals with people on a daily basis.
Profile Image for Mariana Oliveira.
20 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2021
Good ideas, but nothing extraordinary. Kind of repetitive in some chapters. Will probably come back for some highlights, but wouldn’t read the book again.
11 reviews1 follower
Read
October 28, 2022
La importancia de planificar y trabajar en equipo. Un líder solitario no se lidera ni a sí mismo.
Profile Image for Ahmad Nazeri.
252 reviews12 followers
August 27, 2023
A compelling argument for importance of working in teams and a practical guide to helping teams flourish!
Profile Image for Sarah.
250 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2024
Outdated and a little dry. Most of the references were one's I didn't relate to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews

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