Teamwork and collaboration are mission critical to any organization that has to respond quickly to changing circumstances and remain on top. The most successful businesses use powerful strategies to bring out the best in their teams, and here are six of them.
Teamwork Concept #1: Well managed and focused constructive brainstorming generates more creative solutions. Even when conflict arises, disagreements can be good for a team. Bring your team together often to capitalize on the synergy that can only be created when great minds come together.
Teamwork Concept #2: Once you have a terrific team, allow them to gel. The longer members stay together as an intact group, the better they do. As unreasonable as this may seem, the research evidence is unambiguous. Whether it is a basketball team or a string quartet, teams that stay together longer play together better. Identify complimentary candidates, engage them and then encourage them to stay long-term.
Teamwork Concept #3: Effective collaboration begins with a right-sized group. Utilizing Parkinson's Law, which states, "it is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion," teams will often do the same. Larger groups tend to engage in "social loafing" (a.k.a. "free riding"), and the more effort it takes to keep members' activities coordinated. Small teams are more efficient, and become far less frustrated.
Teamwork Concept #4: Teams working remotely can be at a considerable disadvantage, regardless of today's technological capabilities. There really are benefits to bring your teammates face-to-face for efficient and effective collaboration. Organizations that rely on teams that are spread out across the company and the globe have discovered it is well worth the time, money and effort to bring members together frequently to maximize effectiveness.
Teamwork Concept #5: Leaders are indeed important in collaborative work, but not in the ways we usually think. It's true that leaders do make a difference -- the speed of the leader is truly the speed of the pack. However, an incredibly powerful thing a leader can do is to foster effective collaboration that create conditions to allow members competently manage themselves. Giving ownership and stewardship to team members allows the teach to launch projects and initiatives. These, when combined with hands-on teaching and coaching, bring out the best in the team members and the team as a whole.
Teamwork Concept #6: Careful thought and no small about amount of preparation are needed to stack the deck for success. The best leaders provide clear purpose and mission statements for their team, identify what it is they need to accomplish, and then they make sure the team has all the resources and support it needs to succeed.
Bringing out the best in your team requires planning, proper execution and maneuvering, but is always worth the effort needed.
Related Articles:
Top 6 Teamwork Issues (& A Solution Master) {Honorée}
Out of Sight, Out of Mind {The Economist}
Teams In Trouble: The Team As Victim – How To Help A Team Get Unstuck And Reclaim It’s {IATF}
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