Encouraging Teamwork in the Workplace

Encouraging Teamwork in the Workplace

If employees are the individual units of a company, teamwork is the glue that brings everything together, uniting a company and strengthening its business outlook. Without team spirit and company loyalty, an enterprise could suffer from a lack of enthusiasm. Effective teamwork is proven to be beneficial to businesses across various industries, encouraging “stronger relationships between team members, greater job satisfaction, energized employees and a more engaged workforce,” according to The Energy Catalyst Group CEO Michelle Burke. But how can an organization implement teamwork and do so successfully?

Emphasize Clear Communication

Communication sits at the core of all business activity. If messages aren’t delivered clearly from management to staff, the result is often confusion and disarray, as well as work that may not reach organizational standards. However, communication is a two-way street, as the message’s receiver must react to the message, often sending one back and making communication cyclic. Ensure that employees can always ask questions, and implement an open-door policy to make upper management accessible during office hours. If employees know it’s safe to voice concerns, they’ll be more likely to do so—which can lead to a greater understanding of the successes of employees across the organization as well as the stressors related to the job. A recent UK survey found that 42 percent of workers have quit a job due to working for a manager they didn’t like. High turnover can be reduced or prevented if a company pays attention to complaints and suggestions from team members.

Get Employees Involved When professionals at any company come in with a vision of what they’re going to accomplish that day, more often than not those goals include independent work and isolation. While it’s important to clearly define roles for staff members to avoid unnecessary overlap, negotiating group efforts are equally important. All employees should have a clear understanding of the company’s goals in terms of mission and sales expectations. Letting everybody participate in the decision-making process on certain issues helps create a greater sense of team involvement. Beyond that, however, social events and other collaborative efforts are important for bringing employees together and boosting company morale. Office parties, team meetings, and team-building outings are great options to help employees get to know each other.

Use Your Resources

Digital technology has revolutionized the workplace in many ways. Project management platforms such as Zoho Projects and Basecamp help team members collaborate even from separate locations. Another example of a collaborative tool is video conferencing, which can replace staff meetings and help people save money on transportation costs.

It’s not just about what happens in the office, though. Workers feel more involved and happy about their jobs when they receive more than just a paycheck for their efforts. Offering bonus checks or free dinners from promotional partners can help stimulate productivity in the workplace. Creating contests and other fun ways to monitor performance adds excitement to the job.

This content was originally posted to MichaelBabyakFinancialAdvisor.net.