Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

By Dan VanKeeken, CLAC Foundation Program Manager

I’ve been watching more sports than usual these past few weeks, not hockey, but baseball. Every morning, I get up very early and watch Blue Jays in 30 to catch the highlights of the previous day’s game in 30 minutes.

I’ve never watched as much baseball as this year. Although they struggle now and then with their pitching, and their bats aren’t hot every game, the Jays are doing well—and teamwork has a lot to do with it.

I won’t bore you with another lecture about teamwork, though. But I want to share what I have observed after months of watching the Jays. There’s something here to learn from them for any workplace.

8 Lessons for the Workplace from the Blue Jays

1. They really enjoy what they’re doing. Big deal you say: they play a game and get paid crazy amounts of money. All true. But not all teams seem to have as much fun as the Jays.
2. They celebrate every success. Any time a player makes a great catch or throw, or a base hit or homerun, they point at each other, smile, and really celebrate. For home runs, they even make players wear the homerun jacket and often shower them with sunflower seeds.
3. They really enjoy each others’ company. You can see it from the time they take the field until the final pitch. Win or lose, they seem to like each other—important when you spend so much time together throughout the season. They play a long, grinding schedule and yet most games seem downright joyful.
4. They are good at what they do, and they practice to make themselves better. You hear stories about their practices, about players doing extra time in the batting cage, throwing balls around the outfield, doing everything they can to hone their skills.
5. Each player knows their role but is willing to change. If it makes the team better, uses their skills better, or makes room for someone doing better right now, they are willing to change their role. Players go along with lineup changes as the manager sees fit. A player doing well at bat may move up in the batting order. A player may change positions if the manager sees a better way. Not everyone is good at everything. Not everyone gets to play every game. And pitchers are relieved if they struggle or get tired.
6. They have a game plan. They know what to do on any given day. And they give it their best, usually. Everyone has a down day, and the Jays are no different. But there’s always the next game.
7. They accept and manage the danger of their profession. They wear their own form of PPE and work to reduce injuries. They can and do get hurt badly by balls hurtling toward them at high speeds, or by running into other players, or even stumbling as they slide into base. There’s a lot of ways to get hurt on the field.
8. They accept new players readily. They really make them feel at home and help them learn the culture of the team. Every team is different. Players move around all the time. What works with one team in one city may not work with another. Players may also play better for one team than another. Younger players need mentoring. Older players can provide it.

Does this sound like your workplace? I would love to work on a team as high functioning as the Blue Jays—and I mostly do!

One more thing: they are courageous. They play in front of a live audience of thousands and a TV audience of millions. Their performance is critiqued regularly and publicly, on social and sports media and by fans at home or sitting in pubs.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer working out of the limelight!

You might be interested in

Why We Work Safely

5 Jun 2026 

Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job

4 Jun 2026 

CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification

4 Jun 2026 

Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements

3 Jun 2026