As the Yankees demonstrated, the most important value for creating teamwork is respect. It was easy to see the mutual respect between Joe Torre and his players. Torre exercised firm leadership without condescension. His players returned his respect, accepted their responsibilities and executed their duties professionally. The result was a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.
Teamwork starts with respect and is followed by trust, responsibility, and ultimately, success.
The most valuable lesson from the 1998 Yankees World Series victory is that chemistry, teamwork, selflessness and knowing your role on the team have the potential for far greater impact than an assorted collection of all stars. But let's also be clear. The Yankees had great talent. But that alone is not enough. In fact, it's often counterproductive unless the culture of the organization promotes collaboration and a greater sense of the whole.