Many years ago, what companies sought were individuals who could work with little or no supervision. Men and women who are goal-getters. The paradigm seems to have changed recently to individuals who are capable of working in a team. The business/corporate world has discovered the value inherent in the team approach. More can be achieved over a shorter period and better ideas through the rubbing of minds can birth innovations that propel the organization forward. If properly managed, a team approach to work can be very beneficial. In this article, we will be examining ways to strengthen the team spirit in your team or organization.
- Honest Communication: Communication is vital to the success of any human endeavor, especially business. Yet, what is the good of communicating if it is filled with misleading information? Honest communication and not just communication is required for strengthening the team bond. With honest communication, members know how best to relate with one another, how best they can be of help to the team, and how best to support one another. When communication is open and honest, lesser time is spent dealing with individual differences and situations while the larger chunk of time is directed towards attacking team objectives. This in turn saves time and resources. If communication within the team isn’t honest, trust will break down and the team will eventually be grounded resting to waste of time, energy, and funds. Honest communication builds trust and trust strengthens team spirit.
- Mutual Service: In Biology, we were taught there are different types of relationships. Symbiotic (Mutual) and Parasitic relationships are 2 important examples. For the team spirit in any team to be strengthened, each member must be willing and committed to being of service or help to the team when required. Every member must not just assist but must also be assisted when required. There must be a collective commitment to serving one another. When help is given and received unhindered, the team becomes more than just a business one, a family-like bond develops and this results in a momentum that summons almost any obstacle. There must be no room for receiving help but not being willing to give help when required. No parasite tendencies must be encouraged. It must be a win-win at all times for members of the team.
- Discourage Intolerance: A team is made of different individuals from different backgrounds. This means different education, culture, exposure, personalities, and perspectives. As good as diversity is, it is a recipe for commotion if not properly led and managed. One helpful way to ensure diversity becomes a strength and not an atomic bomb is to encourage tolerance. Each member of the team must be conscious of the fact they are all different and difference is not the same as wrong or bad. Each member of the team must show sincere respect for the opinion of others, the beliefs of others, and the temperament of others. We won’t talk alike, act alike, react alike, or even respond alike. We must allow for individual differences and respect them. When each team member sees that they are respected, they are more likely to make the needed adjustment for the success of the team. Intolerance of any form must be frowned upon.
- Meet Physically: in today’s world, team members can be worlds apart and still work to deliver on a project. Technology has made this possible and easy. Yet, the most effective way to engender a strong bond is for team members to time together outside of work. Create a forum where they can meet regularly or occasionally to relax and unwind together. Could be a party, team bonding event, or social gathering. Especially if the team will be in place for a long time, it is important to meet physically from time to time. Physical contact and association strengthen bonds faster. It makes teammates learn about one another faster. And this is vital to the team’s success. People work better when they feel comfortable around themselves. As humans, we are often more comfortable around those we know than those we don’t. To maximize the potential of your time, promote physical meetings from time to time. When they interact physically, it builds trust.
- Reward Team not Individual: When it comes to reward, as long as the work or project was done through a team effort, the reward must be shared equally amongst the members unless they agree otherwise. Don’t reward individuals in the team instead, let the accolades go to the whole team. If they fail, let the consequence be felt by the whole team as well. If it is a monetary reward and it has not been agreed upon from the beginning, let the members of the team decide how they will share it. Whatever the reward is, it is better if the sharing formula has been agreed upon from the onset but in the absence of that, let the team decide. The manager can play a supervisory role but let the team make the decision. When the reward is team-based, it encourages teamwork.
This aspect is an integral part of Team management and vital to the success of any business or organization using the team approach to get the job done.
Fatubaro Temitope is the MD and Lead Trainer at Gestalt Consult. A Learning and development organization.
