‘Teamwork’ and ‘collaboration’ are two words thrown around a lot in business, but when was the last time you took a step back and evaluated the effectiveness of teamwork in your organization?

Collaboration forms the backbone of any business and its success. Strong and effective teamwork helps to build morale in the workplace, which in turn improves the productivity and quality of work, with problem-solving made easier as a collaborative effort, ultimately improving organizational profits.

No two organizations are the same and therefore there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to implementing effective teamwork in the workplace. It may take some time, commitment, and trial and error to get it right, but to help you out we have created a list of different teamwork strategies to get you started.

1. Set team goals: Goals provide direction. It’s that simple! A team that has specific goals and deadlines to meet will work together more effectively and productively than teams without. A team that also has an agreed-upon purpose and clearly defined expectations and roles will work more productively to achieve the desired outcomes, with less crossover and confusion.
   
2. Encourage trust-building: It is important to have trust. It is hard to work productively with someone you don’t trust, and therefore it is important to have trust for teamwork to be effective. Encouraging team members to interact outside of the role they are playing, whether it is eating lunch or partaking in team-building activities, will not only help to build trust, but it will also contribute to a better company culture, and therefore increase employee morale and job satisfaction.
   
3. Build diverse teams: Focus on creating teams with a diverse group of people rather than a group of like-minded people. A group that comes from different backgrounds, with different knowledge and perspectives will bring different ideas and contributions to the table. With this comes more thorough and creative decision-making and solutions. By doing this you will ensure that new and fresh ideas are brought to the table and that the challenge ahead will be tackled from a wider array of angles.
   
4. Encourage clear and frequent communication: Communication is key! Clear and frequent communication will ensure that all members of your team are on the same page, ensure that everyone knows where the project is at and their roles within it, leading to more accurate work getting conducted more efficiently. This will also help to build trust between team members, therefore improving the overall performance and output of the team.
   
5. Establish a feedback-rich culture: To understand your employees’ stance on teamwork, simply ask them. Asking for feedback doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you provide a feedback box or conduct individual meetings, you will be able to gauge where team projects are at and identify any issues your employees may be having within their team or project.
   
6. Structure team meetings: How often do your teams meet? Weekly? Bi-weekly? Monthly? Encouraging regular team meetings and keeping them project-focused will help to drive productivity. These meetings should be an opportunity for your team to plan, reflect, and share ideas around the project to ensure everyone is on the same page, solutions are being actioned, and deadlines are being met.
   
7. Analyze team dynamics: If certain roles or responsibilities aren’t being met or you feel someone isn’t suited to a certain role, don’t be afraid to make some changes within the team. You shouldn’t be afraid to reassign responsibilities if it will improve the performance and productivity of the team. Having someone in a role that is not suited to them has the ability to negatively impact the whole team. In a team, certain members’ work can be reliant on others. Therefore it is important to make sure that all team members are placed in roles that allow them to utilize their skills and help unlock the potential of the whole team combined.

Teamwork isn’t something that can be forced in the workplace. Instead, effective teamwork is a result of a healthy workplace culture, where open communication is valued, feedback is encouraged, and creativity is celebrated.

Is the teamwork in your organization feeling less than effective? Our business coaching can help you to implement some of these strategies and address and work through any other key issues within your organization. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help.