Good teamwork is the foundation for the proper functioning of a company. The ability to collaborate in a group is one of the most important soft skills, appreciated by employers during the recruitment process, as well as during the performance of their professional duties. How to support teamwork in your team? Learn 8 effective tips!
Teamwork – 8 principles supporting teamwork
The implementation of teamwork principles is a necessity if we want to create a cohesive team. It is said that the synergy effect in teamwork. What does it mean? Nothing more than if we combine the components of the company, the efficiency will be greater than the sum of their individual efficiencies. As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers!
There are many benefits of teamwork. Among them, it is worth mentioning the advantages, such as increased team and individual efficiency, shortened project work time, learning clear communication and the possibility of discovering the strengths and weaknesses of employees, in order to increase the potential of each of them. It also has a huge impact on the social sphere – it integrates team members, allows you to get to know each other better, and also teaches openness, tolerance and kindness towards each other. It is also an excellent way to develop important mechanisms, such as effective crisis response. This type of work has definitely more advantages than disadvantages. So how to get effective teamwork? Learn 8 principles that we believe will support this process.
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Setting a specific goal
The goal is what helps us to know what to strive for. A common and clear definition of the task is a stage without which good teamwork cannot succeed. Defining the goal helps to divide tasks and think about the strategy. It is also a great motivator that helps in striving to complete the project with the best possible effect. It is important to remember that the goal should be a common idea, not the realization of an individual. All hands on deck!
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Finding the strengths and weaknesses of team members
A team at work is one team. In this type of group, each of its participants should be responsible for specific duties. In fulfilling certain functions, personality types often prove to be successful. According to M. Belbin, each group should have:
- organizer
- leader
- person of action
- sower
- person of contacts
- judge
- group person
- perfectionist
- specialist
Think together about what qualities each of you has, which will prove to be helpful in matching the duties. In a team, we should complement each other – we use our strengths.
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Creating a clear division of duties
When the roles of people collaborating with each other have been defined, it is worth establishing a clear plan of action and assigning duties. This clarity will allow everyone to focus fully on their tasks, which will certainly lead to greater efficiency. It will also allow you to avoid conflicts. Each person should be equally involved and conscientiously fulfill orders, sharing knowledge and experience with the other team members. The division of duties should also be fair, so that no one feels left out or used.
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Working on clear communication
As you know, communication is the key of good relationships, including those in the workplace. It is a perfect foundation for mutual respect and care for partnership. Such an atmosphere definitely affects the daily work, satisfaction of employees and their performance. A good atmosphere at work is an element that will definitely be appreciated by everyone in the office. During teamwork, clear messages help to avoid conflicts and solve problems together.
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Establishment of permanent elements of teamwork
Regularity is essential! If the meetings do not take place daily, it is worth establishing a fixed day and time for the meetings. The stability of work can also be helped by schemes, performed at each of them, e.g. presenting a plan of action or sharing progress, e.g. in work in subgroups.
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Documentation of progress
Documentation of each meeting is a task that requires meticulousness, but it is definitely worth doing. The leader should appoint one person to take notes from the meeting, which should be accessible to everyone at the meeting. The goal is to monitor progress and see what can be changed to make the group work process even more fruitful. This type of reports also motivate the team to further work.
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Creating an appropriate space
The space in which we work has a huge impact on the efficiency of the group. Teamwork requires appropriate conditions to make it easier to achieve common goals. Technical aspects have an impact on this, so it is worth arranging it so that it is comfortable for everyone. An interesting solution are conference rooms in the form of an acoustic cabin, which create a space free from any distracting factors. Silence and concentration will definitely support creative processes.
See also:
- Classical conference room vs. acoustic cabins – which one is better?
- Atmosphere at work – how to create it effectively?
- Wellbeing – what is it and why is it so important?
