Meaning:
The term teamwork makes the dream work is a common phrase that means it is easier to complete a goal when you team up with someone and work together to reach it. Put another way, cooperating with another person towards a mutually desired goal is more effective than just doing it by yourself.
Example: We finally finished renovating our home. There was a lot of labor involved, but teamwork makes the dream work; I couldn’t have done it without her help.
Similar: There’s no I in team
The Origin of Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
How long has this expression been around? The phrase teamwork makes the dream work appears to have originated relatively recently. More specifically, as early as 2002. So while teamwork has been around for thousands of years, this phrase has not been.
Noteworthy is an older expression that goes there is no I in team, which is yet another common phrase that emphasizes the power and usefulness of collaboration. However, speaking of this phrase in particular, it’s first appearance in print is in a book titled Teamwork Makes the Dream Work by John Maxwell, published in the year 2002. It seems that John Maxwell is likely the person who coined the expression.
Examples of Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Teamwork is important because it can help us to achieve goals that would otherwise be out of reach. There are numerous situations in life where, as the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. We will examine five situations in life where working together plays a pivotal role.
1. Teamwork In Sports
The importance of teamwork in sports cannot be denied. This is especially the case in team based sports, where individual players must work together to find success. For example, in basketball, players coordinate together when they strategically move the ball up the court. They also must use teamwork to set up scoring opportunities, and when defending against the opposing team.
Over the course of several months, sports teams play numerous games each season, which adds up to a significant amount of time spent together. During this time, they work together as a unit, developing trust and communication skills that can help them going forward. Yes, in sports, teamwork makes the dream work.
2. Teamwork In Medical Care
In medical care, teamwork is essential if patients are to receive quality treatment. For example, nurses, doctors, and other specialists work together to diagnose and provide care for those who need it. Teamwork makes the dream work during surgeries too, as multiple healthcare professionals combine their skills and efforts to ensure a successful procedure.
Don’t forget paramedics, who travel outside of hospitals to help others. They respond to emergency situations, and when seconds can mean the difference between life and death, their teamwork has to be quick and effecient to save lives.
Overall, the medical field is another area that benefits greatly from teamwork.
3. Working Together When Moving
Movers often work together to complete their job effectively. How so? By communicating on what needs to be done and coordinating their efforts to achieve that.
For example, when lifting large and heavy objects, such as furniture or appliances, teamwork is needed. This is especially true if these heavy items need to be carried down a flight of stairs. For movers to minimize the risk of damage and to ensure their own safety, they likely understand the importance of teamwork making the dream work.
So the next time there is a heavy piece of furniture that needs moving, you may want to consider getting help from a friend.
4. Teamwork In Restaurants
At restaurants, the essence of the phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” is well understood. To provide high-quality food and service, the chefs and waiters must work together if they want to have satisfied customers.
For example, when a customers places an order, the waiter writes it down and passes the order along to the chef. The chef then begins preparing the meal, making sure it is cooked and seasoned properly. Once the food is finished in the kitchen, the waiter takes and delivers it to the waiting customer.
There are other areas in restaurants that require teamwork to make the dream work as well, such as the staff communicating with each other to ensure the kitchen is stocked with necessary ingredients. As expected, working together helps restaurants to run smoothly.
5. The Power of Working Together In Music
In a symphony orchestra, teamwork is necessary to create a cohesive and harmonious performance. The musicians have to work together, coordinating their play while also following the conductor’s direction. This is true even if we scale down the numbers from a resounding symphony, to a small two person band. In either case, teamwork leads to pleasant-sounding presentation for any nearby listeners.
Conclusion For Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
We went over 5 examples of where in life we see teamwork on display, and undoubtedly there are many more. As it turns out, we see people working together all around us. To solidify the the benefits of teamwork, here is a short poem about this little phrase:
Teamwork makes the dream work, that’s for sure,
Together we can make it happen, cooperation is the cure,
When we share our skills and work as a team,
It can help us to accomplish our dream,
So lend me a hand, let’s give it a try,
Those who want to work alone need not apply.
Tip: What makes the dream work? Teamwork, according to this idiom. Find others like it by using the menu near the top.
