An emphasis on team spirit
When it comes to work, it may seem that going solo for a work assignment is the fastest and most trouble-free route to take. What’s more, if you accomplish something outstanding all by yourself, you will get full recognition and would not need to share the limelight with someone else. However, being independent isn’t always the best way to get things done.
In fact, nowadays more and more companies have come to realise the importance of teamwork in a corporate setting. Each individual employee typically has certain strengths which are unique to him/her, and if his/her expertise is carefully combined with the skills possessed by other equally talented individuals, greater productivity levels and higher quality in work can be achieved than if these employees were to merely work in isolation from one another. In the wise words of Ken Blanchard, “None of us is as smart as all of us”. Furthermore, there is a certain kind of energy and motivation that can only be experienced through team dynamics.
Hence, as an employee who seeks to bring out the best in your organisation, being a team player should become a main priority in your daily work.
Here are some ways in which you can actively contribute towards creating a good team spirit amongst your colleagues:
Lead by example. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader – sometimes the best of leaders are those without a title. You can encourage working as a team in the office by including other co-workers in relevant tasks or projects that you do. Sometimes this may simply be a case of seeking out their opinion or feedback on a particular matter. At other times, it could be suggesting that their presence is crucial for a particular planning or decision making meeting that you are also attending. Whatever the case may be, aim to make it clear by your actions that you place a high value on working together as a team.
Acknowledge others. Whenever something significant is achieved at work and you accomplished it through the help of others, remember to openly acknowledge them for their effort. This shows that you value their contributions, and also further promotes a greater sense of team spirit amongst you and your fellow co-workers.
Close communication gaps. As long as there are two or more people interacting in some form or another, there is always a possibility of conflict arising. Nevertheless, even conflict can be used to bring out the best in a team. Play your part by actively seeking to communicate with others and make sure that everyone is of the same mind. Besides that, you should speak up or take necessary action whenever you are in a position to help resolve disputes or misunderstandings between your colleagues. You should also develop good listening skills and encourage others to do the same, especially during meeting times where someone else is trying to voice their opinion.
Encourage participation. Not everyone is used to being proactive or expressing their views in a team setting. In order to create a better team spirit, you should do whatever you can to encourage every team member to participate actively in the discussion or decision being made. Each and every team member should be made to realise that they have a valuable contribution to offer the team. Regardless of whether you are the team leader or not, you should take on the responsibility of ensuring that everybody is doing their bit for the team.
Be friendly. Cultivate a genuine interest in the people who are in your team. This means going beyond merely asking for favours or chasing down end results or deadlines from your fellow co-workers. Wherever possible, you should aim to get to know your colleagues on a more personal level; perhaps by having a drink or a meal together after work, or just taking time to occasionally make small talk. By building rapport with your team mates, it will be much easier to collaborate and get things done at work in the long run.
All of us have worked in teams at some point or another. What experiences have you had whilst working in a team? Feel free to drop a comment and share with us.
In fact, nowadays more and more companies have come to realise the importance of teamwork in a corporate setting. Each individual employee typically has certain strengths which are unique to him/her, and if his/her expertise is carefully combined with the skills possessed by other equally talented individuals, greater productivity levels and higher quality in work can be achieved than if these employees were to merely work in isolation from one another. In the wise words of Ken Blanchard, “None of us is as smart as all of us”. Furthermore, there is a certain kind of energy and motivation that can only be experienced through team dynamics.
Hence, as an employee who seeks to bring out the best in your organisation, being a team player should become a main priority in your daily work.
Here are some ways in which you can actively contribute towards creating a good team spirit amongst your colleagues:
Lead by example. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader – sometimes the best of leaders are those without a title. You can encourage working as a team in the office by including other co-workers in relevant tasks or projects that you do. Sometimes this may simply be a case of seeking out their opinion or feedback on a particular matter. At other times, it could be suggesting that their presence is crucial for a particular planning or decision making meeting that you are also attending. Whatever the case may be, aim to make it clear by your actions that you place a high value on working together as a team.
Acknowledge others. Whenever something significant is achieved at work and you accomplished it through the help of others, remember to openly acknowledge them for their effort. This shows that you value their contributions, and also further promotes a greater sense of team spirit amongst you and your fellow co-workers.
Close communication gaps. As long as there are two or more people interacting in some form or another, there is always a possibility of conflict arising. Nevertheless, even conflict can be used to bring out the best in a team. Play your part by actively seeking to communicate with others and make sure that everyone is of the same mind. Besides that, you should speak up or take necessary action whenever you are in a position to help resolve disputes or misunderstandings between your colleagues. You should also develop good listening skills and encourage others to do the same, especially during meeting times where someone else is trying to voice their opinion.
Encourage participation. Not everyone is used to being proactive or expressing their views in a team setting. In order to create a better team spirit, you should do whatever you can to encourage every team member to participate actively in the discussion or decision being made. Each and every team member should be made to realise that they have a valuable contribution to offer the team. Regardless of whether you are the team leader or not, you should take on the responsibility of ensuring that everybody is doing their bit for the team.
Be friendly. Cultivate a genuine interest in the people who are in your team. This means going beyond merely asking for favours or chasing down end results or deadlines from your fellow co-workers. Wherever possible, you should aim to get to know your colleagues on a more personal level; perhaps by having a drink or a meal together after work, or just taking time to occasionally make small talk. By building rapport with your team mates, it will be much easier to collaborate and get things done at work in the long run.
All of us have worked in teams at some point or another. What experiences have you had whilst working in a team? Feel free to drop a comment and share with us.
Labels:
at work,
behaviour,
enthusiasm,
experience,
interpersonal skills,
motivation,
on the job,
perspective
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