Summary of Lessons from "The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player" by John C. Maxwell

This is a summary of the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. This book carries the subtitle “Becoming the kind of person every team wants”. Developing a better team always begins with YOU. Improving yourself will add value to your team. But if you have a leadership role on your team, it is especially vital. Why? Because you can effectively teach only what you consistently model. It takes one to know one, show one, and grow one.

To improve the team, improve the individuals on the team.

As the saying goes, "You can lose with good players, but you cannot win without them." When it comes to having good people on a team, you really have only two choices: train them or trade for them.

Quality #1: Adaptable - if you won't change for the team, the team may change you.

Quality #2: Collaborative - working together precedes winning together.

Quality #3: Committed - there are no half-hearted champions.

Quality #4: Communicative - a team is many voices with a single heart.

Quality #5: Competent - if you can't, your team won't.

Quality #6: Dependable - teams go to "go-to" players.

Quality #7: Disciplined - where there's a will, there's a win.

Quality #8: Enlarging - adding value to teammates is invaluable.

Quality #9: Enthusiastic - your heart is the source of energy for the team.

Quality #10: Intentional - make every action count.

Quality #11: Mission Conscious - the (BIG) picture is coming in loud and clear.

Quality #12: Prepared - preparation can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Quality #13: Relational - if you get along, others will go along.

Quality #14:Self-Improving - to improve the team, improve yourself.

Quality #15: Selfless - there is no "I" in team.

Quality #16: Solution Oriented - make a resolution to find the solution.

Quality #17: Tenacious - never, never, never quit.

As John Maxwell closes his book, "Keep growing, keep building your team, and never forget, one is too small a number to achieve greatness! Good luck on your journey."

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

Qualities of a Team Player - TENACIOUS

We are continuing our growth by developing teamwork skills utilizing the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. This book carries the subtitle “Becoming the kind of person every team wants”. Developing a better team always begins with the individuals. To improve the team, improve the individuals on the team.

Quality #17: Tenacious - never,never, never quit

"To see far is one thing; going there is another." - Constantin Brancusi

"To finish first you must finish." - Rick Mears

Being tenacious means:

1. Giving All that You Have, Not More than You Have
   1. If you give your all, you afford yourself every opportunity possible for success.
   2. ...being tenacious requires that you give 100 percent - not more, but certainly no less.
2. Working with Determination, Not Waiting on Destiny
   1. Tenacious people don't rely on luck, fate, or destiny for their success.
   2. And when conditions become difficult, they keep working.
   3. They know that trying times are no time to quit trying.
   4. "I start where the last man left off." - Thomas Edison
   5. Nothing feeds tenacity like our natural competitive nature.
   6. To succeed, you must act with absolute integrity.
3. Quitting When the Job is Done, Not When You are Tired
   1. If you want your team to succeed, you have to keep pushing beyond what you think you can do and find out what you are really capable of.
   2. "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired - you quit when the gorilla is tired." - Robert Strauss
   3. "Every successful person finds that great success lies just beyond the point they're convinced their idea is not going to work." - Napoleon Hill
   4. Tenacity hangs on until the job is finished.

To improve your tenacity:

• Work harder and/or smarter
• Stand for something
• Make your work a game

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc