"Teamwork Makes The Dream Work": What Does It Mean, And How Can You Be A Good Teammate?

You may have heard the well-known phrase, “Teamwork makes the dream work,” but you are unsure what it means. To understand this phrase, it may be helpful to explore what effective teamwork can look like and how you can harness the power of a team. In addition to working in smaller groups and assigning roles, this process may include communication skills building through talk therapy or communications training. 

What is teamwork? 

Teamwork is often defined as a collaborative effort by multiple people working toward a common goal. Effective teamwork may include skills like active listening, trust, honesty, empathy, leadership, conflict resolution, mutual respect, communication, and drive toward achieving a goal.

Teamwork often occurs in school, work, and personal life. A common example of effective teamwork is a sports team. Within this group, everyone aspires towards a common goal (winning a game), and each person utilizes their skills (such as speed, strategy, or accuracy) to help the team accomplish the goal. 

How does “teamwork make the dream work?”

Imagine watching a soccer game where one team is composed of members who are not working together toward a common goal, with each player acting as their own goalkeeper, defense, midfield, and attack. This team may not succeed against a team that is working together.  

Now, imagine that the team realized that some players were more skilled at scoring, whereas others were better at defense. If the team utilized everyone’s strengths in specialized positions, the team may play better and have a greater chance of winning the game, which is the common goal.  

The phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” means that dividing responsibilities across the team enables the team to achieve a better outcome than could have been achieved alone. Initially, this phrase was coined by John Maxwell, an American clergyman, in his 2002 book Teamwork Makes the Dream Work. The full quote in his book reads, “Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.” Effective teams can be an asset, whereas ineffective teams can become a liability. 

What makes a team effective? 

Maxwell wrote the following 17 laws of effective teamwork in his book. By incorporating each, teams may have a better shot at making the dream work through their combined effort. 

Law of significance

According to the law of significance, individuals acting alone may not achieve significant success. Maxwell notes, “Behind an able man, there are other able men.”

Law of the big picture

This law emphasizes that everyone must be willing to sacrifice their own personal best interest when it impedes the potential for the group to reach their common goal. 

Law of the niche 

The team’s leader can utilize the law of niche by recognizing everyone’s unique strengths and assigning roles accordingly. Within this law, Maxwell identifies that each team member can be pushed outside their comfort zone but stay within the zone of their strengths. 

Law of Mt. Everest

This law states that individuals working alone may struggle to achieve big dreams. As the goal becomes more challenging, unified teamwork can become more crucial for the project's end goal.  

Law of the chain

According to Maxwell’s book, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the same goes for team performance. Maxwell explains that anyone not serving the group can be trained or leave to serve a team that’s a better match. When asking someone to leave the group, Maxwell emphasizes the importance of honesty, brevity, and discretion.  

Law of the catalyst

For the team to continue reaching out of their comfort zone, there must be a member who makes the team perform better and try harder. This may be someone whose own enthusiasm or energy inspires others to be more enthusiastic and energetic in return. 

Law of the compass

According to the law of the compass, an effective team must have a vision that provides clear direction and inspiration. 

Law of the bad apple

When one person on the team has a negative attitude or poor communication skills, they may interfere with the entire team's effectiveness. Bad attitudes can be addressed by the team leader, or they may end up impacting the energy of the whole team.  

Law of countability

According to this law, an effective team can benefit from trusting each other and being able to count on one another. The most effective teams may be honored to work alongside their teammates and hold a deep respect for each other. 

Law of the price tag

According to the law of the price tag, each group member may pay a price for the team to succeed, such as making a time commitment, striving toward personal development, or putting the group's goals ahead of one’s own goals. 

Law of the scoreboard

Without accounting for where they are, teams may struggle to see how far they are from their goals. To keep their goals on track, teams can implement measurable milestones and accountability that help them stay on track. 

Law of the bench

According to this law, great leaders are those who have people on the bench who are training to become the starting players of the team. These team members are often compared to the army reserves, who are ready for action whenever needed.  

Law of identity

For a team to succeed, it may be beneficial to have a unified set of values. These values provide a foundation and can act as the glue that holds the group together. Individuals with similar values may join and strengthen the team by establishing a clear, unified identity. 

Law of communication

Communication can require active listening, courtesy, and connection. When teams have strong communication, they uplift each other. When they don’t, they may cause unhealthy patterns to develop.

Law of the edge

When two teams are equally talented, the leadership may give them an edge. A team may struggle to reach its full potential without effective leadership, guidance, shared responsibility, and encouragement. 

Law of high morale

Teams with high morale may overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Morale can encourage greater performance, make wins seem more significant, and give team members the confidence to tackle obstacles and take risks. 

Law of dividends

Investing in your team can compound over time. Although investment can require time and energy to build and develop an effective team, it may be the key that makes the dream work. 

Tools for improving your next team

As John Maxwell may indicate, developing a productive team can be time-consuming and costly. However, the effort may be worth the sacrifice. Try using the following tips to make your team stronger:  

• Select people with values that align with the group.
• If someone doesn’t seem like a match for the group, train them or move them to a group where their assets are more valuable. 
• Address conflicts proactively to avoid poor attitudes. 
• Ensure each team member has responsibilities that push beyond their comfort zone while working within their strengths. 
• Use an effective medium to communicate. For example, avoid having a serious conversation through text messages. 
• Set up time for routine check-ins. 
• Define values, vision, and measurable goals.  
• Track the team's progress towards ambitious goals. 
• Establish systems for individual accountability.
• Put people in a position for success by assigning suitable roles.
• Use team-building exercises.
• Make space for hanging out after work. For example, you might start a casual team bowling league or meet for a happy hour together. 
• Teams with three to six members may be effective in encouraging creativity and reducing the risk of “groupthink.” 
• Evaluate performance and offer routine constructive feedback. 
• Give credit when it’s due.
• Celebrate victories to build confidence, energy, and momentum. 
• Celebrate failures as a learning opportunity. 
• Provide training opportunities to sharpen communication and active listening skills. 

How therapy can improve team skills

While some people naturally have high emotional intelligence, others may improve with the following strategies. 

Communications training

According to a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, some online emotional intelligence training programs can improve emotional intelligence for up to six months. Some companies offer communications training programs for their employees, so ask your employer if this program is an option for your workplace. 

Thoughtfulness practice

If you don’t have the time, energy, or resources for communications training, you may be able to boost your emotional intelligence on your own through the following techniques: 

• When you experience intense emotions, give yourself time to explore them before you react. When you want to lash out and make a hurtful comment to a team member, ask yourself about the motives and what emotions are underlying your behaviors. 
• Recognize your strengths while recognizing where you might benefit from growth and support. If you’re struggling, ask yourself if there’s a different way to approach problem-solving or if there’s anyone on (or off) the team you could ask for help. 
• Watch how people communicate non-verbally through eye contact, body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Consider whether their non-verbal cues match up with what they’re saying. If they don’t, clarify, ask questions, and otherwise address confusion before moving on. 
• Give others your full attention without looking at your phone, interrupting, or multitasking. Active listening may allow everyone to be seen and heard. 
• Communicate clearly by eliminating unnecessary information. For example, you may jot down notes before meetings to help yourself stay organized.

With practice and patience, people may improve their emotional intelligence and the quality of their teamwork. 

Support options 

Therapy can also build emotional intelligence, communication skills, and team-building efforts. It may be helpful to talk to a career therapist or someone with experience in social skills to work in a team more effectively. However, some people may avoid therapy when it causes barriers like financial strain or distance from resources. In these cases, working with a provider online may be possible. 

Platforms like BetterHelp offer therapy sessions from a pool of more than 30,000 licensed therapists, many of whom specialize in interpersonal challenges. Working with an online therapist allows you to choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions and access unique resources like journal prompts, group sessions, and worksheets structured to your unique challenges. 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy repeatedly shown to improve emotional intelligence, mental health, and general well-being. Research also supports the effectiveness of online CBT. For example, a 2016 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that online CBT can be as effective as in-person therapy.