You’ve probably heard the phrase ” if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together “, right? Well, that’s pretty much what teamwork means .
This African proverb represents the importance of teamwork. After all, when people work together, they can go further and achieve a much higher level of productivity , which is the goal of every company.
If you want to learn how to promote teamwork, keep reading!
What is teamwork?
They work together, joining efforts, talents and skills to solve one or more problems and, thus, complete a goal that possibly could not be achieved by just one person .
Thus, people discuss, analyze possibilities, alternatives and ideas through a commitment both to each other and to the company itself.
Teamwork can bring several benefits to the company if it is well executed, with all members in harmony and respecting differences.
How important is teamwork?
We mentioned the importance of teamwork at the beginning. Only teamwork can take people further. In fact, knowing how to work in a team is a skill that companies seek .
Of course, each person has their own goals and can do a good job even alone. However, working in an engaged group brings several benefits to themselves and the company , such as:
- Improvement of the organizational climate ;
- Increased productivity ;
- Development of soft skills ;
- Strengthening ties between employees;
- Focus on activities;
- Improved communication ;
- Motivation ;
- Optimization of task time;
- Sense of belonging ;
- Exchange of knowledge.
What promotes teamwork?
Many managers may think that to promote teamwork, all they need to do is get employees to work together on a task. However, there are some alternatives that can make it easier to get started:
Planning
Planning the task itself and all the steps is the first step to forming a good team .
In this way, it is possible to foresee obstacles and anticipate crises , as well as discover who are the best people who will contribute to overcoming problems in the best possible way.
Furthermore, good planning can optimize the time taken to complete a task , especially when activities are divided.
Set deadlines and goals
The schedule is the basis of planning. Therefore, ensuring that it is respected is essential in teamwork.
This is also an exercise for group members to take responsibility for their part , not leaving it to their colleagues.
Of course, these deadlines and goals need to be realistic and take into account the other duties of employees. This way, the company does not overload the employee , which could have effects that are contrary to the objective of the entire work.
Feedback
A feedback culture should be part of every company’s routine and is essential to promote teamwork and help members get to know each other.
Clear and transparent communication must be a priority so that everyone knows exactly where the company wants to go and what role each team member plays in this process.
Therefore, the company needs to, in addition to providing constructive feedback to employees individually and to the group, encourage dialogue between teams . This way, it can avoid communication problems and align expectations.
Empathy
Even if employees who are part of the same team do not know each other well, it is important to emphasize that they need to respect each other .
Knowing how to deal with differences , limitations and weaknesses, in addition to exercising empathy, also favors the creation of bonds.
All of this contributes to improving the organizational climate, in addition to reducing turnover.
Valuation
Employees can often feel invisible when working in a group, especially if they are working with people who stand out .
Therefore, so that they do not feel less valued, it is significant that the company acknowledges the qualities of all the participants.
Team rewards are a means to make everybody feel equally responsible when they achieve something. This is an excellent way to motivate and make them feel worthwhile.
What are the main challenges of working as a team?
One of the main challenges of working in a team is how leaders will deal with everything from creating to maintaining teams. After all, teamwork needs to be encouraged for everything to work out.
Respect for differences can also be an issue, as can personality conflicts. All of this can be worked on through communication.
Taking care not to overload some team members is another issue that needs to be carefully observed and avoided. In the same way, taking credit for someone else’s work is also a problem .
Competitiveness can also be a barrier. Therefore, valuing the group as a whole can be a good way to avoid the need for individual prominence .
