Teamwork

According to Napoleon Hill, team work / cooperation is one of the 17 keys to success outlined in his book Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement.

Cooperation is necessary in a marriage, in a family, in a corporation, on a sports team and many other areas in our day to day life.

It only makes sense to learn more about this valuable skills.

Team Building Index

Teamwork: Climbers
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Lessons from the Blue Angels

This video is inspired by the ultimate team: the United States Navy's world - renowned flight demonstration team - the Blue Angels. While the Blue Angels certainly differ from your organization, the underlying principles for success still apply.

The Power of Teamwork separates winners from losers. By putting team first, communicating effectively, capitalizing on synergy, fostering positive attitudes, and striving for perfection, you can raise the bar for your team and prepare to win. When you build trust and shared values, peak performance is possible and you'll discover The Power of Teamwork.

Watch this inspiring video to learn more.

1. Without shared values, peak performance is not possible.

2. Sacrificing individual gain for the team’s greater good is the price of admission members must pay… and keep paying … to be on the team.

3. Effective leaders are upfront and lead by positive example.

4. Successful leaders embrace the power of teamwork by tapping into the innate strengths each person brings to the table.

5. Peak performance requires we take time to rest, reflect and recharge our batteries.

6. Visualize yourself accomplishing the task at hand.

7. Synergy happens when qualified people align on a common objective.

8. Each member must know the procedures and follow a detailed script.

9. The can-do attitude makes the impossible possible.

10. By confronting our failures, we come closer to reaching perfection.

11. When each member accepts full responsibility and strives for excellence… trust and performance increases exponentially… and the team is ready for takeoff.

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Great "What if" Questions to Create a Strong Team

Watch this video with great “what if” questions to contemplate to create a culture to support effective team work!

What if We …
What if We … made an effort to share our histories
What if We … helped others understand their value
What if We … encouraged new points of view
What if We … celebrated success more often
What if We … changed our surrounding from time to time
What if We … considered team results as impressive as personal success
What if We … encouraged risk taking
What if We … proactively practiced open mindedness
What if We … respected one another
What if We … encourage an environment of trust and collaboration
What if We … create our own innovative culture
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Lessons from the Ants

This video about the teamwork require for the ants building a farm is loaded with great quotes.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
~ Helen Keller

Ants are very good citizens, they put the group interest first.
~ Clarence Day

Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.
~ Alexander the Great

In union there is strength.
~ Aesop

Teamwork: simply stated, it is less me and more we.
~ Unknown

Many hands make light work.
~ John Heywood

Whether it is two people, a department, or an organization, teams are the means by which great things get done.
~ Steven J. Stowell, Ph.D.

For a larger collection of quotes on teamwork, click here.

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Lessons of the Geese

Watch this inspirational video about the Lessons of the Geese on Teamwork.

1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates a "uplift" for the birds following. By flying in a "V" formation the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join formation with those who are headed where we want to go.

3. When a lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.

LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership - with people, as with geese interdependent with one another.

4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging - not something less helpful.

5. When a goose get sick, wounded or shot, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member, to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she either is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or to catch up with their own flock.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by one another like they do.
~ Unknown

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Good Teams / Bad Teams

This 8-minute video contains some humourous clips, plus excerpts from an interview with a university professor from Stanford. To me, some of the most interesting points she made were those about team conflict.

1. The first meeting is the most important.
    Purpose: Establish common goals and expectations.

2. Utilize the midpoint utilization.
    Purpose: Assess completion and redistribute tasks.

3. Good leadership allows divergence.
    However: Convergence is required for progress.

4. Task conflict is part of good teamwork.
    However: Interpersonal conflict is counterproductive.

5. And if the Team is beyond repair… use “Swift Trust”.
    Assumption: All team members have good intentions.

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Funny Video on Cooperation

Extremely funny video demonstrating cooperation! Watch, laugh, and learn. What could be better?

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Good Books on Team Building

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Great Posters

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