When a group of committed individuals works together the results can be spectacular – or disappointing. Team leaders can drive a culture of innovation, productivity and fun – but they can also drive a culture of blame, paranoia and stress. In the modern work environment people talk about teams but there are many dynamics in most work places that work against the team dynamic.
Many departments do not operate as teams—that is, “practice teamwork.” Members may talk to each other at the printer or over lunch, and their work efforts may be designed to meet the overarching objectives of the department, but these employees’ work on a day-to-day basis is largely done as individuals, which is unfortunate, for many business experts now believe that teamwork is critical to organization productivity and profitability.
When people work together in an atmosphere of trust and accountability toward a common goal, they put aside turf issues and politics and focus on the tasks to be done. This focus of resources overcomes barriers, helps to identify new opportunities, and builds a momentum that leads to three major bottom-line benefits:
1. Better problem solving
2. Greater productivity
3. More effective use of resources
Unless you have built a sense of teamwork among your employees, they will have no shared performance goals, no joint work efforts, no mutual accountability, which can increase productivity. There is also a group of softer benefits of teamwork that greatly enhances the workplace:
1. People enjoy working together and teamwork satisfies a need for socialization.
2. Working together helps people grow as they learn from each other and develop important skills.
3. Working together toward a common goal provides a sense of purpose that is motivating and fulfilling.
