“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Andrew Carnegie, American industrialist
Ideas generate faster—productivity increases. Morale builds. Employees feel empowered and are engaged. And those are only a few of the benefits an organization enjoys when a spirit of teamwork thrives.
Teamwork at its finest combines the strengths, skills, and interests of individual employees into a cohesive unit where the value of collaboration, mutual support, and trust foster creative, innovative results unattainable by individual efforts. By nurturing an environment that fosters joint efforts, a company advances its pursuit of success.
Utilize these four tips to provide your company’s teamwork strategy with a firm foundation.
- Create a shared vision
“If you want everyone to do their best work, they have to know the bigger picture and where you want the company or department to go,” says Logan Derrick.
Lay before them the mission, detail the common goal, and create a visual so that the team can grasp the vision individually and as a unit. A team “sold” on the idea will be fully on board, making the group’s efforts exponentially more effective.
- Clarify roles and responsibilities
A sure-fire way to position a team for failure is to neglect the crucial step of establishing clear roles and responsibilities. When time and energy must continually be funneled toward who did or will do a particular task, efficiency will suffer. Such scenarios are also breeding grounds for resentment as responsibilities will likely fall into an uneven disbursement when handled randomly. Engagement and unity plummet, rendering the team ineffective. Avoid this disappointing outcome by documenting roles and responsibilities from day one.
- Establish team rules
While some folks bristle at the very word, rules play an essential role in a team’s effectiveness.
As Hannah Price reminds us, “Rules are everywhere – on the sports field, in daily interactions – and they exist to keep everyone safe and on the same page. How can we move forward together if we don’t know where we stand? Rules will safeguard the success and productivity of a team.”
When established early, reviewed routinely, and adjusted when necessary, rules help keep the group focused and headed in a mutually beneficial direction. Of course, feedback from everyone should be encouraged and expected.
Price suggests examples such as—
- When we meet, we’re all present (no cell phones or laptops).
- We’ll be open about our frustrations.
- We listen with intent, rather than waiting for our turn to talk.
- We respect out of office hours and won’t expect communication unless it’s an emergency.
- Socialize outside of work
Times of socializing outside of work hours and away from the workplace allow team members to get to know each other on a more personal level. Whether it’s a potluck at the park, families included, an adults-only dinner out, or a weekly/monthly lunch-hour meetup at a favorite restaurant, spending time together forms bonds that positively impact on-the-job time.
These low-pressure, informal gatherings work better than do “team-building exercises” that often feel forced and ultimately yield little in the way of team bonding.
A strong business needs strong talent. Let A.R. Mazzotta, one of the top staffing agencies in Connecticut, make it happen for your company.