In business today, all work is done by teams. Your ability to
function well as part of a team, or as a team leader, is a critical
factor in determining how far you go and how fast you get
there. The most valued people in every company are those
who are described as good team players.
The manager’s work is actually the work of the team. The
manager’s results are the results that the team gets. By putting
together a team, the manager can move from what she can do
to what she can control. She can shift from operating to managing.
She can concentrate all her attention on getting things
done through others.
In the past, it was common to say, “If you want something
done properly, you have to do it yourself.”
Today however, this has been completely reversed. If you
are serious about being successful in business today, what you
say is “If you want something done properly, you have to find
someone to do it.”
It takes no brains or special talent to roll up your sleeves
and do it yourself. But it takes real brains and ability to find
and deploy the right person to do the job instead. This is
where you must focus.
Great managers are great because they have staffed their
companies with excellent people in every critical position.
Great generals are great because they have excellent officers at
every level of command. No one does it alone. Everyone needs
the help of other talented people.
