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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead Teamwork is a buzzword for companies large and small. Why? Because when people work together well, the results they can achieve far exceed what they could have accomplished individually. Yet successful teamwork rarely happens without training, coaching, and support from leadership. Any company can benefit from developing a culture of teamwork, in which employees work together efficiently and effectively, and where each member of your staff feels that his or her contributions to the organization are valuable and vital to the company’s success. Here are some ways to begin building such an environment in your company: Communicate goals and roles clearly. Employees need to know what the company’s overall goals are, and what role they (and other workers) play in achieving those goals. Clarity and quantifiable measures on these points can avoid disagreements around who’s responsible for what job. Provide equal support. Make sure each employee is trained and equipped to perform their tasks. Frustrations and divisions emerge when a “link in the chain” is broken. Empower employees. Give decision-making power to people who need it to do their jobs, but provide oversight to ensure their judgments are bringing the company success. Trusted employees will strive to make the best decisions for the company, without slowing down work. Provide feedback and rewards. Being straightforward about your opinion of employees’ work lets employees know where they stand, giving them security and confidence to continually improve. Reward individual and group success with acknowledgement or tangible, valuable rewards (such as a luncheon or spot bonuses). Drop the games! Most workers are skeptical of clichéd team-spirit building activities, such as “Hawaiian Shirt Day” or blindfolded trust exercises. Teambuilding activities that have a defined purpose will help you focus on creating an environment that genuinely supports teamwork. Building a company culture that supports collaboration and teamwork requires support from the top. Training programs through TotalSource University can help: the “Team Building” course described in the TotalSource University Course Overview can equip you and your managers with skills to boost your company’s teamwork efforts. Sources: |
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