Teamwork Archives

When I talk about the importance of teamwork or collaboration I often refer to it as a math equation where 1+1 should equal more than 2. It’s not uncommon for 1+1 to equal 3, but for the best teams that equation could be 1+1 equals 8 or 10 or possibly even 20 and beyond.

Organizations that figure out how to promote, equip, and support this type of collaboration and teamwork could multiply this impact across hundreds or thousands of teams and the impact can be game-changing innovations and breakthroughs.

That is the growth side of the argument for investing in teamwork and collaboration. However, there is also another argument to be made for investing in team cohesion in order to minimize lows.

Yes, we all have bad days or from time to time are drowning in the work that is in front of us. Teams are a critical mechanism for helping us get back on our feet and building relational and emotional equity for when we return to full strength and can produce at a high level as individuals.

Y Combinator, the wildly successful startup accelerator, has always required startup cofounders – not solo startup founders for this very reason. It is lonely building something big and different and there are so many days of self-doubt and negative thoughts that can sabotage success unless you have an awesome co-founder that you can lean on, get different perspectives, and move past roadblocks.

My experience building Cloverleaf with Kirsten Moorefield is a testament to this critical aspect of teamwork. We have had so many lows and setbacks and times that we should have quit moving forward but we have always been there with encouragement and new thoughts just when it was needed.

When we hire new team members we talk about those moments and the important role that trust in your teammates plays in having personal and team success.

Work teams can often produce as individuals working asynchronously on cross-functional teams. There is a constant rhythm of coming together to connect, communicate, and align. Then each individual goes off and completes tasks independently according to individual strengths and skill sets.

And in short to intermediate bursts there can be high levels of productivity even when the key ingredients of high-performing teams are absent.

That’s right, in the short term people and teams can still be productive when a team has a dysfunctional culture, mistrust, and even sabotaging behaviors. But over time it is this intangible element of teamwork where people genuinely care and sacrifice for each other in a way that picks individual team members up when they are down that allows teams to thrive over the long term.

It’s the accelerant in my formula that allows 1+1 to equal 20, 50, or even 100.

Bad days and difficult challenges will happen (and if you are doing something great it will happen frequently), and teaming up with people who understand this often overlooked element of teamwork can be the rocket fuel for sustained, long-term and outsized team performance.

The success of any company or business rarely rests on just one team member. Through the collective efforts of the entire team, success is built using communication, emotional intelligence, motivation, and teamwork.

At Cloverleaf, our technology helps to build teams that love working together. We specialize in promoting professional development by improving team collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills. To learn more about the importance of teamwork in the work environment, keep reading or create a free account to see what Cloverleaf can do for your team performance today.

WHY TEAMWORK IS ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD WORKPLACE CULTURE

More and more, younger generations are inclined to take a “lone wolf” attitude in the workplace. For tasks that team members must complete alone, this mindset is perfectly practical. However, most modern workplaces require collaboration and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking in order to achieve a common goal. These systems are self-sustaining. Motivation and success are natural byproducts when all team members collaborate, work responsibly, and contribute equally.

Many Hands Make Light Work

Teamwork also increases overall productivity within a workplace. Successful collaboration among multiple team members with unique skill sets accomplishes basic tasks more rapidly and efficiently, meaning the team can move on to the next goal or project.

Planning and adaptability are important during projects involving multiple team members. As teams grow larger, collaboration becomes more of an impressive feat of logistics.

9 TIPS FOR IMPROVING TEAMWORK

Successful team collaboration isn’t always easy to establish. If your workplace suffers from productivity issues or other problems, there may be breakdowns in teamwork to blame. Taking steps to improve teamwork can improve productivity, increase job satisfaction, and more.

Below, we cover some of the best ways your company and leadership can help boost teamwork in the workplace.

1. Schedule Team Meetings to Discuss Goals

Sometimes, maintaining team cohesion in a busy work environment is challenging. Remote teammates may not receive as much opportunity to practice open communication or work collaboratively as in-office team members. For this reason, it may be challenging to work toward a common goal effectively and make remote employees feel like they are part of a team.

One way to encourage employees to share ideas and practice effective communication is to schedule regular team meetings. Since most companies have people working remotely, make these meetings digital as much as possible. In this group setting, teams can discuss both team goals and business goals to establish detailed plans to work productively and reach targets.

If you’re looking to spice up regular team meetings, consider utilizing meeting games or team-building activities to encourage discussion during these meetings. Always go into each session with a list of fresh ideas relevant to your organization or team’s current state of affairs.

2. Incorporate Active Listening Training

Active listening is a skill developed by people who engage in emotional intelligence practices. Active listening is a method of turning off internal reactions and truly hearing what another team member is saying. Successful teamwork relies on active listening to establish strong communication, trust, and mutual support.

Leaders and team members should encourage participation in active listening training or utilize team-building activities that promote active listening.

3. Set Up Office Layouts with Clear Goals in Mind

Office layouts should increase natural teamwork by promoting organization, efficiency, and clear guidelines for work. Teams know where and when each task needs to be performed and can work and communicate more effectively.

If your team members suggest changes to an existing office or workplace layout, it may benefit your company to listen to those suggestions. Otherwise, try to think about the goals below when designing your office spaces.

4. Privacy

An essential part of teamwork involves respecting the boundaries of other team members. It’s important to remember that many people work better in quiet, private spaces such as offices or cubicles. This preference may be because these environments generally promote focus and increase productivity. An underrated benefit of teamwork is letting individuals tend to their needs and then coming back to the team refreshed.

5. Collaboration

Even if team members complete a primary portion of their work alone, there will be instances where teamwork is essential for productivity. Create spaces where your team can work together comfortably and effectively. Open spaces or even larger offices transformed into conference spaces make great places for collaboration among teams.

6. Share Insights About Personality Types

Our personalities have a lot of influence over our professional lives. When members of the team appreciate unique personality types, working styles, and communication needs, employee morale increases, productivity improves, and teamwork occurs naturally.

Cloverleaf delivers personalized insights for each of your team members. Learn how to work better together with coaching tips delivered to your messaging apps, email and calendar.

7. Use Team Feedback to Choose a Low-Commitment Team Extra-Curricular

A critical part of building effective teams involves encouraging change and fun. Don’t sign your team up for something they won’t enjoy; instead, ask them for feedback about low-impact activities they might like to participate in as part of the work culture.

Some companies choose professional lunches or dinners while others go on trips, attend seminars, play games, or participate in team-building activities. Whatever activity you and your team choose, make sure it promotes good workspace values, pulls on your team’s individual talents, and fosters partnership among team members.

There are many different ways to get team feedback regarding any team activity. Take polls, send chain emails, hold in-person votes during select meetings, and more. As always, allow your team to provide feedback on whichever choice they’ve made. They may choose one activity initially but feel more comfortable selecting another going forward.

8. Discourage Micromanaging

Nothing kills teamwork faster than micromanaging. Micromanaging is when a lead or team member attempts to control every aspect, no matter how small, of a project, task, or activity. In these cases, the lead or team member is trying to achieve results without allowing the talents and skills of other employees to shine. Micromanaging represses talent, stifles collaboration, and discourages teamwork and learning opportunities. After all, if your work is never good enough for a team leader or fellow team member, why participate in teamwork at all?

9. Hire with a Focus on High Performance Team Players

If your business needs a great team that works together and gets the job done, hiring with those goals in mind is a good practice. Make sure each new hire has a talent for working in a team, is willing to engage in team-building activities, and can adapt to the needs of other team members.