Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: What Does That Really Mean?

You’ve probably heard people saying, ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’ though you might have dismissed it as meaningless corporate poster banter. You may think it’s a repetitive cliche.  But could there be more to the phrase? As it turns out, there’s a lot to be said in favor of the mantra. 

Teamwork really does make the dream work, especially in the competitive and high-stress tech startup environment. At the end of the day, everybody’s time, work, and input matters in a new company, and there’s plenty of evidence to back it up. A company is only as good as its people and, in this article, we’ll discuss why (and how) teamwork really does make the dreamwork.

Why Teamwork Matters

To begin to understand why this phrase matters in the tech industry, we have to look at Silicon Valley’s most celebrated pioneers. But first, we need to clear up a few misconceptions about these technology icons. 

Steve Jobs wasn’t the only person behind Apple. Although Jobs was the one who got most of the credit, Steve Wozniak contributed greatly to the company’s success. Jobs had the vision and the charisma, while Wozniak had the engineering skills to make it all happen. Turns out, what happened to Steve Wozniak is a common phenomenon.

Microsoft, another tech titan, was precisely the same way. We think of Bill Gates as synonymous with Microsoft, but Gates’ partner Paul Allen also played a significant role. While Allen and Wozniak were never recognized like Jobs and Gates, they were still instrumental to the development of great companies.

There’s rarely a massively successful business venture that doesn’t involve at least two people. Everybody has individual strengths, but we’re each limited in some way that somebody else isn’t. This is why we form teams to begin with. 

Not only do we help one another get things done, but we each bring something unique and valuable to the table.  This is where the ‘team’ part of ‘teamwork’ comes in, and this is why the team must come together to make it happen. 

Why It Makes the Dream Work

A strong team builds an atmosphere that’s conducive to success.

Good relationships in a business environment can be beneficial at work and elsewhere. When everybody gets along, people are more inclined to help one another without expecting anything in return. 

Remember, the goal is to build a business and create an excellent working environment. When the team falls apart, so does the company. When people work together and get along well, there’s a much higher likelihood of good work being produced. It’s not a complicated concept, and ‘teamwork makes the dreamwork’ brilliantly sums up the idea.

Here’s why teamwork makes the dream work. When a team collaborates effectively, gets along, and puts in their fair share of the effort, it’s possible to get everybody on the same page about what the goals of the company are.  Management and team leaders share ideas effectively and hold nothing back.

When employees are motivated and encouraged to collaborate together to solve problems, they cease to be employees and they become a team. Everybody benefits when the company succeeds, and individual employees are more likely to achieve goals for themselves and management.

What to Do About It in Your Company

If you’re an employer, make your company an inclusive place where management doesn’t treat lower level employees differently. When everybody feels included and adequately treated, they’re more likely to get on the same page and share company goals.

It’s never good to unintentionally train employees to clock in and out instead of showing up to work ready to make a difference.  Next time the team is working on a project, lend a helping hand and get involved with everyone. Be a leader in your team and take everybody seriously. It will improve the company’s odds of success.

The saying is true because individual employees feel empowered and motivated to achieve. People like to work together on a common goal. If leaders treat people correctly, each person will feel involved and put in their fair share of effort to support the company vision.

Takeaways

Now that we’ve established that teamwork makes the dreamwork, here are the three most important ways you can start seeing your company improve in no time.

1) If you’re a leader, get involved with the team.

If you’re a leader or a higher-up within the company, take the time to get involved with the team. Show your presence and collaborate, even when it isn’t completely necessary. The team will appreciate having a leader helping out–it demonstrates that you value their effort, and validates the importance of their time. Employees like it, and managers can gain a lot of useful insight about the team by getting involved.

2) Establish goals and incentives.

The team won’t improve unless they have a reason to. If possible, establish incentives for good work and collaboration. Gift cards, bonuses, or even something as simple as an email recognizing the effort. A little reward or recognition can go a long way, especially when it comes from a leader within the company. It’ll keep everyone motivated and on the same page, which is vital to the success of a team.

3) Ask questions and respond accordingly.

Check up on the team and ask about their work experience. Is there anything we can do to improve your experience? Do you think there are any problems we need to address? Do you feel like part of the team, and if not, what do think will make you feel included? These questions can obliterate long-standing issues in the workplace, assuming you respond accordingly. Get on the same wavelength as your team, and the results can be significant.

To sum it all up, there’s much to be said for collaboration and getting involved with the team. It’s in everybody’s best interest to build the team and encourage cooperation on all levels of the company. Not only will this result in a higher chance of success, but it increases morale and improves the work environment for everybody. The saying might be overused, but teamwork absolutely makes the dream work.