Team-building in the Workplace
takes more than Cheer-leading.
Team-building in the workplace is the commitment to make the success of the team the top priority for each team member. Getting
that commitment from a group of workers doesn’t happen by accident. Or by cheer-leading.
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It happens because an individual decides to focus the attention and effort of a group of individuals around a specific set of business or organizational objectives. It also happens because that individual possesses strong speaking and listening skills required to motivate everyone in the group to contribute their best effort to the team goals. |
Requirements for Team-building in the workplace
For that to happen, the team leader has to be able to do the following:
- Persuade members of the team of the value of teamwork
- Instill in each team member a sense of responsibility for the team
- Empower each team member
- Guide the team
Workers will not commit themselves to team-building in the workplace unless they are convinced that the goals of the team are worth the required sacrifices. They may have to delay personal goals and interests or change comfortable working routines. Whoever is responsible for building the team must demonstrate how making these changes are in their best interests.
The Value of Recognition
Being recognized in the organization as a solid team player is an example. It says that a worker possesses the maturity and skill required to delay immediate gratification for the satisfaction that comes later in meeting more important ideals or values. Those personal qualities are important assets for anyone hoping to advance in an organization.
The Importance of Ownership
Another
requirement for team-building in the workplace is to create a sense of
ownership for the team’s work in each member. Feeling responsible for
the team’s success moves team members from caring solely about their own
work to caring about the team’s work. That leads to better
co-ordination of activities, fewer breakdowns, and higher productivity.
The Responsibility to Develop Team members
A
third requirement is having the ability to empower team members. That
means doing whatever it takes to make them successful. Besides
providing members with resources they need to do their work, empowering
them includes
- listening to their concerns
- asking for their input
- recognizing their work
- expressing appreciation for their work
- offering assignments that develop their skills
- giving them opportunities for advancement.
Helping team members succeed also demonstrates an organization’s commitment to operate by ethical principles.
The value of guiding the team
Finally, team-building in the workplace requires knowing how to guide it. Setting team objectives and explaining how each member’s work contributes to the team’s success guides it when it is first formed.
Once work is begun, guiding the team demands an effective communication strategy and strong communication skills to stay on top of how well the team is working.
Effective communication Coaching helps you develop the communication skills required for building strong teams in the workplace.
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