Principle 12: Teamwork

Introduction

The eleventh principle of Napoleon Hill's 17 principles of success is Teamwork. Teamwork is the key to success in any professional setup. We are working in knowledge economy and everyone have some kind of important knowledge with her. Just like love and friendship, we will get cooperation from others if we cooperate with others. In several studies, it was found that happy parents nurture happy children. We can inculcate Teamwork among our subordinates by displaying cooperation in our day to day dealings.

Meaning of Teamwork

We form a very small group of people with same enthusiasm and inner fire in Mastermind Alliance. Teamwork also works in similar fashion but here we deal with people of varied goals and enthusiasm levels. Here we have to put extra effort to maintain good level of cooperation among different teams. General Douglas MacArthur who was a chief of US Army used to start with the presentation of junior most officers. He used to ensure that no one interrupt the junior officer during presentation. He knew that confidence building exercise is very important to build trust among lower level managers. 

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We see that sometimes people forcefully works as a team but that teamwork doesn’t last long. During Second World War, USA and Soviet Union worked together to beat Hitler but as soon as War ended both nations again started fighting with each other.

Teamwork and Business

Napoleon Hill observed that McCormick spice company of Baltimore introduced a great initiative known as “The Multiple Management Plan". Charles P. McCormick got this business from his uncle and he believed in a fact that responsibilities must be shared with people who can be taught to do so. McCormick handpicked seventeen young professionals and designated them as Junior Board of Directors. These Junior Board of Directors started discussing about the prospective strategies of the company and presented proposals to regular board. Company observed new charge of energy and enthusiasm due to these directors. In very first year, more than fifty percent of the proposals were accepted and started. This is a great example of a Teamwork and any company can implement this idea to get tremendous results. No one can ever achieve true greatness without the help of others and even big personalities need support of bigger teams. Edison was an avid innovator of his time but he depended upon engineers, managers and assistants to make his work possible. He became a great businessmen just because of his ability to manage so many intelligent people and create a great teamwork. Personalities with great people skill have power of attraction and they gain friendly teamwork of others. This skill can do wonders for you and it is a priceless asset for you. It is also contagious and you can infect others with your enthusiasm.

Teamwork and Cooperation

Whether you are earning your living by working as a clerk or from the interest earned on inherited fortune, you will earn it with very less opposition through friendly cooperation of others. A person who gain friendly cooperation of others can acquire all luxuries of life more readily and easily as compare to others. Wealth gained through cooperative effort leave no scar on the heart of its owners but this can't be said about the wealth earned through conflict and unfair competition. There are two types of teamwork i.e, willing and unwilling. We must always try to earn willing cooperation from others rather than unwilling and pressurised cooperation.

Summary

Teamwork is the key principle of success which can make you a real leader. We all know that teamwork and cooperation work well for politics and military but they also work well for businesses. Whenever we see a great business setting new records then we can say that it is based upon cooperation and teamwork of its employees.
Work well with your team members and they will surely lead you to success.