A great performance in the workplace is what every team strives for. But how can you promote such successful collaboration?
Below are some tips on how to improve teamwork amongst your employees. So you can reap the benefits of successful teamwork in the workplace.
And be one of those success stories you so often hear about. Well, what are you waiting for?
See Related: 11 Ways Magic Can Enhance Team Building Amongst Your Co-Workers
#1. Host a team building event
Workplace teamwork doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It has to be fostered and nurtured. And what better way to do that than with a team building event?
Building team spirit with a corporate comedian
You don’t have to build a campfire in order to promote teamwork. But you can treat team members to a corporate entertainer.
Consider hiring out a comedian to open up your team meetings. Or reward them for a job well done with some entertainment they can enjoy.
It may be a simple idea. But offering your team members a shared experience through corporate entertainment can inspire them to implement effective teamwork once they return to the office.
Getting outside of the work environment
Sometimes, you need to shake things up a little. So get your team outside and moving.
You may have remote workers trying to complete individual tasks on a daily basis. But what good does it do if team members never meet one another in person at least once?
Consider hosting an event that will not only reinvigorate employee engagement. But will also get other members acquainted with one another so they can work better once back in the office.
Applying team building activities back at the office
Promoting successful teamwork doesn’t just mean a day in the park with a comedy magician. (Although that does sound delightful.) It means applying those teamwork skills to the work at hand.
So as you engage in these various activities, remind team members that this lesson applies back at their work stations. Once team members understand that they can rely on each other, the more successful your team will become.
All in all, these activities are meant to inspire trust. So lay the foundation for great teamwork to take place.
#2. Share ideas and engage in frequent communication
Great teams know how to make the decision making process much more efficient. Because it all boils down to a company and their communication.
Teach your entire team the importance of open communication
When you talk about effective teamwork, you’re really talking about communication. Because let’s be honest.
We’ve all been to team meetings that are an inefficient waste of time. But when team goals are decided upon through open communication, it’s much easier for strong teams to complete tasks.
Not to mention that teams work best when everyone feels heard and valued. So make sure there’s not one member of the team that feels out of place.
Lead by example and create an open dialogue. And make sure every team member feels equally important.
Encourage team collaboration on a new project
Every team member brings something new to the table. And this kind of diversity in the workplace is important.
Effective teams know how to play to each team member’s strengths. So encourage folks to bring their unique perspective to the table.
And remember: you can improve teamwork simply by asking people to come forward. Sometimes, folks simply need an invitation to collaborate.
Make sure everyone is on the same page
A successful team may have various perspectives. But good teamwork means getting everyone to cooperate the same way.
This means that team members may bring their ideas to the table during the brainstorming process. But once the team has decided on a goal, it’s time for everyone to set their own agendas aside.
And work towards the bigger picture. After all, improving teamwork means viewing oneself as a part of the company unit, not just an individual visionary member.
#3. Create a team of individuals from different backgrounds
You might think that effective teamwork comes from people who share the same perspective. But there are plenty of advantages to having a team that’s diverse in thought.
Too many similar backgrounds doesn’t provide enough perspective
A company is a unit. But this doesn’t mean that everyone at the company should be the same.
In fact, teamwork in the workplace should be balanced and well-rounded. It should take on new perspectives to make for a great team that’s thought of everything.
Of course, this can result in some conflict. But to promote effective teamwork, you have to take on new ideas and find the best way to implement them.
Encourage self-awareness for a stronger team
Teams don’t work if every member holds a different opinion and thinks they’re arbitrarily right. In fact, a big part of teamwork in the workplace is stepping back.
And recognizing the new perspectives that every team member brings. This kind of self-awareness is particularly important.
Not only in regards to teamwork. But in regards to one’s professional and personal life.
When a team remains humble in their ideas, they remain open to collaboration. And that’s where innovation is born.
Welcome new ideas to make team members feel valued
Another big part of teamwork in the workplace has to do with how team members feel. Sure, business can sometimes feel like a non-emotional pursuit.
But everyone on the team is human. So you’ll want to make sure that everyone on the team feels valued, especially when they suggest hiring a comedian for a conference (hint hint).
When team members feel heard, they are more likely to contribute to the team. Because they know they have something to offer.
In a way, it’s like boosting teams’ self-esteem. Because teamwork only works when everyone is on board.
#4. Set clear goals for the whole team
What’s the best way to make a team work? By giving them a clear goal to achieve.
Look at the bigger picture to set priorities
If you’re in charge of multiple teams, it’s important you give them a clear purpose. Teams without a purpose find themselves flailing about.
Because they’re not sure where their efforts are supposed to land. But giving them a clear objective focuses the collective on a single goal.
And encourages folks to bring their strengths to the table. In this way, it’s important for the leader of the team to have the ultimate vision in mind.
The project may require multiple tasks. But keeping the big picture in mind is important for morale and understanding.
Make sure individual members feel they have a purpose
We all know what it feels like to work at something without a purpose. It feels, well, useless.
But this is the exact kind of attitude you don’t want your team adopting. Instead, you need to reinvigorate their sense of purpose.
This will not only get team members to step up to the plate. But it also gives folks something in common.
Everyone is trying to reach the same goal. That already brings people together. And as they learn to rely on one another, the more they’ll come together as a team.
Encourage great ideas but keep everyone going in the same direction
The brainstorming process is a great time for ideas to be welcomed. But it’s important that the brainstorming phase remains just that – a phase.
You don’t want folks bringing new proposals in halfway through the project. That means that half of the work you’ve already done is useless.
Instead, a team needs to focus and bear down on a single plan of action. Of course, certain things may change over the course of the project.
But for the most part, it’s important to keep everyone going in the same direction. That way, folks feel like they have a designated path to follow.
And nobody strays in order to satisfy their personal needs. Remember: it’s a group effort that requires everyone to be on the same page.
Bonus: How To Become A Magician
#5. Have a plan for conflict resolution
Conflicts will inevitably arise. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing so long as you have a contingency plan in place.
Save time when problems arise
Conflict management is something all companies should be well versed in. Because you don’t want to scramble at the last minute to try and resolve an issue.
Instead, you should have a plan in place for when conflicts arise. That way, when they inevitably do, you won’t waste your time scrambling to find a solution.
Having this plan up front can also teach employees that specific procedures exist. This way, it almost feels like a safety net.
Ideally, employees aren’t looking to start conflicts. But knowing that there is a resolution plan in place can make them feel more secure for when issues come to the surface.
Work effectively to make difficult tasks manageable for the team
Conflicts can also be prevented by those in charge. Let’s say there is a string of particularly difficult tasks coming up.
And you don’t want to overwhelm the team right off the bat. In that case, structure the project differently so that team members don’t burn out.
And avoid the potential for conflict with strategic planning. Most often, conflicts can be 100% preventable.
So as you go about assigning tasks, make sure you think through every possible outcome. This way, employees know that you put a lot of thought and care into the agenda.
And this makes them feel well cared for. After all, nobody likes conflict.
Hear team members out when business goals aren’t being met
Sometimes, a team can be working so hard to get the results they want. But they’re just not meeting the business goals set out for them at the start.
In this case, hear the team out. They’re the ones putting in the work on the ground floor.
So they may have different perspectives on how to better accomplish the goals at hand. Being open to feedback is a particularly important component of teamwork.
In fact, some would argue that it’s the most important part of teamwork in the workplace. Either way, giving everyone the chance to voice their concerns is yet another way you can promote teamwork.
Because people will inevitably have opinions. But it’s up to you whether to hear them out or not.
#6. Ask new team members for feedback
The onboarding process can be challenging for some. But asking new members how the process can improve allows for a better operation in the future.
Create an honest and open company culture
Being transparent with colleagues and employees fosters an environment of trust. And that’s the very basis that teamwork is founded upon.
Some may argue that you can’t be transparent about everything in the workplace. And that may be true.
But when it comes to team efforts, you want everyone to be on the same page, right? Then you have to disseminate all pertinent information.
Promote more creativity in the office
Let’s say there are certain processes in the office that have been working fine for a while. But you want to find a better way of getting things done.
Encourage your employees to bring their creative problem-solving skills to the table. There are always new ways to improve a company.
So use team members as a resource for positive growth. You may find that certain processes can become more efficient with the right advice.
Or you may discover new strengths in particular team members that can help down the road. Either way, maintaining an open dialogue and encouraging creativity in the workplace is a great way to foster positive relationships and build new systems.
Actively work to implement innovative new changes
Why is change in the workplace important? Because change is inevitable.
Sure, there may be certain things that are working just fine. But being averse to change is the first step in a company’s downfall.
It may be small changes to start like shifting from Microsoft Office to Apple computers. Or it could be something bigger.
Either way, as head of the company, you’ll always want to keep your pulse on the future. Because that’s where all businesses are aiming for.
The bottom line
Teamwork in the workplace can look like many different things. But hopefully, these suggestions have opened up the framework for you.
Because there’s no one way to be a team. There are many. And it’s up to you and your company to decide how best to function as team members alongside one another.
Keep Reading: How Is Collaboration Different From Teamwork?
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Adam Christing is a professional comedy magician, virtual MC, and the founder of CleanComedians.com. He is a member of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and a popular corporate entertainer, magician, and virtual speaker.