Do you know how to build teamwork? Have you worked on building teamwork with varying degrees of success? The answer to both of those questions is probably yes. Most of us have experience building teamwork and have met with both success and failure. I believe the quest to discover how to build teamwork should be viewed as ongoing and constantly evolving. That being said, there are some great foundational tips you can use to create a high functioning team.
- A work team should be put together strategically; like a sports team in that each individual should have a role that compliments and does not duplicate the other team members.
- Every team needs a mission in order to excel, to foster enthusiasm and to maintain a good sense of direction and forward accomplishment. It’s leadership’s role to define mission and if mission is fluid, then it’s the team leader’s role to allow the team time and to provide support to discuss and debate mission.
- It’s important to encourage and reward both individual performance and team performance. It’s wrong to deny differences among teammates. It’s right to reward each individual’s initiative and dedication. But ultimately, everyone should share a genuine feeling that bottom line motivation is for the team to succeed as a whole. So don’t forget to create recognition for individual success and team success.
- It’s so so important for leaders to create a culture of fairness. Culture of Fairness bears repeating. Relationships last when all parties believe they’re being treated fairly. There will be bumps in the road, disagreement and discord. Long term, most discord can be resolved when everyone feels like they’re being treated fairly, being valued and honored.
How To Build Teamwork? Build Relationships…
- The importance of setting aside time to building relationships can’t be overstated. And yet, this vital strategic component for how to build teamwork is often pushed to the back burner. That’s because you won’t see immediate tangible results from the time you spend helping your team bond and build trust. But long term you’ll see huge results. In the work I do with Kidbilly Music and Team Building Through Song®, the emphasis on the importance of strong relationships, trust and communication is paramount.