Summary of John C. Maxwell's The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

Dr. John C. Maxwell is the renowned author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, his latest creation being The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, published in 2001, by Thomas Nelson Inc., in Nashville, Tennessee, and covering 288 pages.

The central idea of the book is that great things can only be achieved when working in team, but a reliable, winning team, can only be built if certain principles (the 17 indisputable laws) are understood and followed.

No matter the goal, in order to attain it, one should invest in one’s team above everything else, in order to make sure that the end product will benefit from the necessary ideas, resources, energy and perspectives.

The 17 laws that the author proposes to the reader may be summarized as follows:

1. The Law of Significance - No matter how well prepared, smart and resourceful one may be, one will obtain better performances as part of a team. The idea is supported with several examples, the most resounding achievements in human history being the result of team work.
2. The Law of the Big Picture – The final goal of the team should always prevail over the role of the individual. Those who think otherwise simply do not see the big picture. This is why only good teams can reach important goals, although individual accomplishments may give satisfaction to anyone.
3. The Law of the Niche – In a team, every member has his well established place, where his contribution could not be matched by that of another member. It is the duty of the team leader to find the right place for everyone in the team.
4. The Law of Mount Everest – The greater the challenge, the more important it is for it to be dealt with by a team. Every goal needs a team tailored according to its importance. A new goal may require adding key members to the team, removing ineffective members and even changing the leader.
5. The Law of the Chain – The team’s strength is directly proportional with that of its weakest member. The weaker members of the team can always be the cause of failure, making the other members be less effective and even questioning the ability of the team leader.
6. The Law of the Catalyst – The secret of the winning teams are the valuable members, who can change the course of things and play a decisive part in achieving the final goal. The catalyst, or the person who can make the difference, is the one who is more intuitive, communicative, talented, passionate, creative, generous, responsible, and influential.
7. The Law of the Compass – In order to maintain their direction and their confidence, the team members need a vision. Great achievements require great visions, otherwise, the energy of the team may be dissipated into projects dictated by individual agendas that would work one against the other.
8. The Law of The Bad Apple – The wrong attitude of certain members can ruin the whole team and prevent it from attaining its goals. This is why rivalry between the members of a team, petty jealousy, excessive ego, inability of recognizing one’s errors, unjustified criticism, etc., are always counterproductive.
9. The Law of Countability – Team members must rely on one another when the need arises. It will help them overcome obstacles easier and gain more confidence, both in themselves and in the other members of the team.
10. The Law of the Price Tag – In order to attain its goal, every team needs to pay a price. There are teams who ignore the price of success and teams who refuse to pay it. These teams will never be successful. Time, sacrifice, commitment, unselfishness and personal development are jut a few examples of the prices a team (through its members) will have to pay to attain its goals.
11. The Law of the Scoreboard – Adjustments can be made when the teams know exactly where they stand. The scoreboard is an essential element for this, because it allows the understanding of the path the team needs to follow in order to reach its objectives, it allows evaluations, decision making, correcting mistakes and rethinking strategies.
12. The Law of the Bench – Good teams always have backup solutions, in this case members able to play several parts and cover the responsibilities of others. This way, if one member is not effective, he/she can be easily replaced.
13. The Law of Identity – Common goals strengthen and bind the team. Organizational values determine and guide the behavior of a team the same way individual behaviors are influenced by personal values. Team values must be realized and assumed by each member in order for the team to succeed.
14. The Law of Communication – The results of the team depend on the way its members interact. The better the communication between them, the closer they cooperate, the better the results will be and the easier the goal will be attained.
15. The Law of the Edge - The leaders are the ones who can make the difference between success and failure or between two teams that are equally talented. The members represent the force of the team, the vision traces the direction they should follow and the work ethic ensures the proper environment for the actions to be taken.
16. The Law of High Morale – Nothing hurts when you are winning. Teams with high morale can fight almost any challenge they face, because mobilization is at its maximum and each teammate knows exactly what he/she has to do. The reward will be worth all the effort and sacrifice along the way.
17. The Law of Dividends – The most profitable investments are those made in your own team. The time, money and effort every team member brings in when pursuing the common goal are not wasted resources, but will pay off sooner or later.

Every law is thoroughly explained and sustained with several examples, those presented as short anecdotes making the salt and pepper of the book. The language is simple and accessible, transmitting the message loud and clear: teamwork is essential no matter the goal or the circumstances.

John C. Maxwell’s work can be a starting point for any salesmen, not necessarily a leader, because, perhaps more than in any other field, in sales, team work can make the difference between successful and failed transactions.

Just think of every sale as the result of team work. The product was sold because, on one hand, the team that manufactured it used quality materials, an innovative design and met safety standards.

Then, the marketing department designed the package and ensured the publicity needed for the product to draw the attention of potential resellers. Last but not least, the reseller is the one sending the message of the manufacturer and praising his work to the end-user.

With a poor quality product, the salesperson would certainly not reach the success quality ensures, and, without good salespersons, the manufacturers would never be properly rewarded for their work. 

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork are a must read for every salesperson. It teaches one to:

• Accept one’s place and responsibilities as part of the company;
• Accept the merits of others and contribute to attaining the company’s goal, even in the detriment of one’s short term interests;
• Follow rules and abide by the team’s ethics;
• Acknowledge the role of the leader and follow the direction imposed;
• Identifying weaknesses within the team and developing a backup plan, finding replacements or solutions.

The list may continue, but the basic idea is that every salesperson has something to learn from this book, and, if there were a list of must read books, John C. Maxwell’s work should certainly be on one of the top positions. 

Do you need a book summary or review, or perhaps an eBook written from scratch? Email me at mihaela.c.olaru@gmail.com and I will be happy to do it for you!