Teamwork is important for the workplace. If the blockbuster hit The Avengers taught us anything it’s that, as a team, anything can be accomplished. Now we may not have superpowers, but who says a great team can’t be super? Employers should set out to have employees work together and accomplish tasks that will reach their company’s goals and their employees’ individual professional career goals. Teamwork can be tricky, though. Sometimes gathering a group of people and assigning them a task can result in arguments, verbal throw-downs and frustration. With the right guidance though, people can work as a team in an effective and more efficient manner.
Give Clear Instructions
Usually poor teamwork is a result of poor communication. Issues may be left unresolved and linger to debilitate the group. The manager in charge of overseeing the group should give clear instructions on the expectations they have for the members of the team and the team’s outcome. Does the team understand the mission or objective? As the executive leader of the team, the manager must make sure everyone in the team understands their role in the team, their task, and what the end result should be.
Make the Team Have Synergy
Teamwork can be improved by making sure everyone in the team is comfortable and trusts each other. If there isn’t trust then chances are members of the team don’t feel comfortable in the group and feel like they can be taken advantage of or stabbed in the back. Building trust can be made by conducting quick informal group activities like a name game to get to know each other more or a quick meet up for coffee to socialize in an environment out of the workplace that encourages them to socialize with each other. Once the team knows each other on a more personal level they can then begin to build a sense of camaraderie- this super team will be ready to take on anything.
Be Proactive on Problems
If you’re the leader of your group it’s important to step up and address any problems within the group. You mustn’t feel obligated to solve them on your own. Rather you need to make group members discuss the issues at hand and work on a solution as a team. Problems need to be addressed and solved because if they go unaddressed, they’ll hurt the team in the end resulting in poor performance. Be proactive and encourage healthy communication within the group and the solutions you come up with today will help out for future group projects, because if they aren’t solved they’ll keep coming up.
Award Success
A big way to improve poor teamwork is by giving a positive incentive. Everyone likes being recognized and appreciated for their hard work. Show your employees you appreciate their hard work and reward the best teamwork with a prize or a bonus. This incentive will motivate teams to work hard towards being the most successful and thus collaborating more positively and working more efficiently.
Teamwork requires trust, accountability, good communication skills and proactive solution thinking. It may be hard working with people you aren’t accustomed to be working with, or maybe you’ve just always been that person that likes to work on your own. You have to remember though, when it comes to teamwork everyone has an active role that is crucial to the success of the team. It’s just a matter of making each member personally motivated and encouraged and having the entire team guided efficiently to reach the most successful outcome.
SOURCE: Chron
IMAGE: Courtesy of Haring Kids (Keith Haring)
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