Tinkering With Teamwork Within the Workplace

We’re certain you’re no stranger to the benefits of good teamwork in the workplace. Kids and adults are constantly reminded that “teamwork makes the dream work,” and the philosophy is evident in everything that we do. From working on school projects to helping organize a family event, we have all had some experience with working as a team. This teamwork becomes all the more important when you enter the professional sphere. 

An organization is made up of a very diverse collection of individuals and for them to be able to understand each other and work toward common goals, there needs to be some degree of understanding between them. Sure, an organization can function with everyone pursuing their own individual goals, but is it the best way to target success? Not necessarily. 

Teamwork in business is essential for any organization to thrive, and while we might collectively groan at the thought of more workplace interactions than is strictly necessary, it is still essential to target teamwork as one of the more critical elements of the work culture.

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In Pursuit of Teamwork in the Workplace

Teamwork goes beyond a group of people assigned to work together as a “team.” It always begins like that when certain employees are assigned to a particular project or all members of a particular department come together to brainstorm their approach to a task, but over time, through quality communication, teamwork is seen when the group is able to work together. 

In a team, each person has a specific role to play and they are expected to carry their own weight to get the job done. If they happen to struggle with a particular element of a task, a good team is capable of providing the support required to fill in when necessary.

Why Teamwork Matters

The importance of teamwork cannot be denied, and there are more benefits than just having a team that gets along with each other.

• Improves the quality of communication among workers
• Employees enjoy coming to work and interacting with colleagues
• Teamwork livens up the workplace and gives employees more energy to get through their tasks
• Employees feel a sense of belongingness rather than doing their jobs mechanically
• Conflicts are resolved more easily and without the need for management intervention
• Ideas are shared more openly to lead to more innovative solutions
• Avoids the problem of groupthink as employees become more comfortable with presenting counterpoints and alternate ideas
• Employees understand each other’s strengths and are able to share work more efficiently
• Each worker is clearly aware of their role and their exact responsibility with a task
• Facilitates regular discussion which helps to eliminate overlap and ensure all the important angles are covered with every assignment
• Teamwork in businesses ensures the group presents a united front to clients instead of bickering amongst themselves
• Each employee is able to grow without fear of being overshadowed by one outspoken coworker
• Good teamwork can make employees more confident about taking calculated risks knowing that they have the rest of the team to rely on
• Reduces the number of errors as everyone regularly updates each other on their tasks
• Facilitates the sharing of resources within the workplace instead of encouraging employees to hoard information
• Lowers the chances of toxic behavior and negativity within the workspace
• When one employee grows, the entire team benefits from their knowledge and experience 
• Improves the wellbeing of the employees who are able to find a community within the workplace 

Tips For Employers to Support Teamwork Within the Workplace

Teamwork in most businesses is relegated to being an employee’s responsibility as they are expected to connect with their teammates on their own. However, in a fast-paced work environment when tensions are already high, building connections can be difficult. When employees are made to compete with each other excessively, they start to become selfish and focus solely on getting their own tasks done. In such a situation, there is no sharing of knowledge and information as employees are forced to meet their own targets instead of looking out for each other. 

For the employees to understand and appreciate the benefits of teamwork, employers need to make changes that can facilitate it. When the company rewards employees for working together, it encourages others to make an effort to come together as well. This is why it is essential for employers to understand the importance of teamwork and encourage it across their entire business. 

If you’re of the mind to improve teamwork within your workplace, here are some ideas to consider. 

Ensure the Onboarding Process Includes an Introduction to the Team

Onboarding processes are often restricted to familiarizing the employee with every element of their role rather than settling them into the company culture and helping them become more comfortable with the team. While the technical aspects of the job are important, it’s just as essential to help the new employee find a place for themselves within the team.

Rather than having the manager introduce them to everything and work in isolation, create a culture where existing employees also help the new worker settle in. Give the team some room to have an extended lunch hour or a group meeting to talk about themselves and their roles so the new employee doesn’t feel like an outsider. 

Encourage Brainstorming Sessions Without A Deadline

Almost all interactions and meetings within a workplace are conducted to reach a specific target and deadline. This inhibits creativity and encourages employees to stick to solutions they have already tried. During slower work periods, encourage employees to come together and discuss the ideas they want to try out and how they would go about it. This sharing of ideas could help them open up to each other and innovate without the pressure of an immediate goal.

Support Creativity and Encourage Employees to Come Forward

Employees who do not feel confident about their ideas will hesitate to open up. Create a safe space for employees to share their thoughts and feedback in a civil manner and do not punish them for having “silly” ideas. Even if an employee does have an idea that cannot be practically pursued, explain why and encourage them to rework it into a more doable solution. When employees are more comfortable speaking up in front of their teams, they will also naturally drift towards being more open with their teammates.

Create Opportunities for Employees to Interact With Each Other

The benefits of teamwork are best felt when communication occurs across the organization with ease. Most employees tend to work by themselves and only reach out to someone when they need something, which is not an ideal way to build teamwork in the workplace. 

Create opportunities for different departments to work together and interact regularly so they have a friendly working relationship with others rather than feeling like the rest of the organization is full of unapproachable strangers. 

Inform Employees About What’s Going On In Other Departments and Teams

The importance of teamwork in a business isn’t just restricted to one specific team—there needs to be healthy interactions between different departments and teams as well. It’s a great idea to share newsletters or provide updates during team meetings that let employees know what the rest of the organization is up to. 

This invokes more curiosity about the organization, helps them feel pride in another department’s success, and incentivizes them to collaborate with those other teams. Help employees understand what’s going on across departments and projects.

Create a Proactive System For Conflict Resolution

Entire teams often suffer when a few employees are at odds with each other. It creates an uncomfortable environment and team members are forced to pick sides, which never ends well. Create a robust and responsive system that addresses conflicts within the workplace and puts a quick stop to any toxic, discriminatory behavior. This way, employees can resolve issues much quicker and get a better understanding of what is and isn’t allowed within the workplace.

Be the Blueprint For the Behavior You Want to See

Employees are more likely to emulate the behavior of their seniors and management team. This is why it is essential for employers to showcase the desired behaviors to encourage employees to follow suit. Communicate regularly with employees, respond positively to ideas, resolve issues with a systematic approach, be patient with how you treat teams, help employees feel welcome within the organization, and embody the kind of support you want employees to display. 

The more the employees witness positive behavior, the more likely they are to behave in the same way and that’s the best way to encourage teamwork within the workplace.

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