Teamwork: Keeping the Momentum Going in the Workplace

The workplace is where most of us spend many hours of our lives, so getting along and working productively with your colleagues is very important. That is why teamwork matters.

But what is teamwork? One of the most used words in the workplace, but what does it really mean? Well, perhaps the best way to define it is when a group of people work together with the same common goal in mind, creating a positive working environment and supporting each other resulting in improved performance.

Leaders who are not afraid to make the tough call and establish standards of performance that should constantly be met, are what we call effective leaders. You must constantly foster commitment from each team member to embrace a mindset where each of your employees must learn to apply the differences that exist in one another for their own success and that of the company. To manage people, organizations require effective managers. Highly skilled and trained managers can make or possibly break your business.

T- for together
An effective leader recognizes the importance of embracing differences in people and knows how to bring the team together and connect the dots amongst those differences to get the best outcomes from the team. This is what cultivates a workplace environment of continuous improvements, innovation, and initiative.

Well-functioning teams are essential to running a well-functioning business. If there is no co-operation, employees do not work together effectively. Leaders can facilitate collaboration by highlighting the impact of individual productivity and clarifying team members; values.

E-for engagement
Work teams need people who have strong technical and interpersonal skills and are willing to learn. Also, having self-leaders who take responsibility for getting things done is important. But if a few team members carry most of the burdens, the team runs the risk of burnout.

To develop consistent engagement on a team, leaders should consider three factors that affect the level of individual contribution:

*Presence
*Confidence
*Empowerment

The more individuals feel like part of a team, the more they contribute and the more members contribute, the more they feel like part of the team. When workers are involved in the decision-making process, they feel enabled and invest more of themselves in the company.

A-for accountability
When you’re part of a team, each member affects your productivity and schedule. When you rely on co-workers to review a document before proceeding, a month can go by before you have everyone’s input. As the leader of the pack, it’s in your best interest to push your team to get things done more efficiently, so you can produce better results in less time with less frustration.

One way to increase everyone’s response time is to arrange a meeting with your team at the beginning of each project, so you can plan it through to the end. Set out goals, discuss each member’s responsibilities, and set firm deadlines. Highlight what is expected from each person and when, also have them do the same for you.

M-for motivation
Employee motivation is important because, in today's competitive economy, it's more important than ever to have a motivated workforce. That's because a motivated employee is a productive employee. And a productive employee is a more profitable employee.

At the end of the day, employees are people too. Each one of us has needs that are fundamental motivators that go beyond simply getting paid to do a job. Motivating by money only works if you have an unlimited budget. Instead, find out what they need by looking into employee personalities. Their behavior will show you enough about their personality to determine what it means they need.

Being a leader is not an overnight thing. Your role should not be to settle problems or constantly monitor your team, it should be to create a team culture where people address concerns immediately, directly, and respectfully with each other. Yes, this will take time but the return on investment happens fast as you regain lost time and see problems solved both better and faster.

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