The efforts of teams often produce far greater results than individual efforts. Leslie Palich of Pepperdine University concludes from her studies that teams are generally more productive and their work can lead to the creation of valuable new products. However, groups can also encounter difficulties: infighting, disagreement about the project's direction and vague objectives are just a few issues that can create contention with even the most skilled teams. Improving teamwork in the workplace can be achieved in several ways.
Implement Recognition Programs
Encourage quality teamwork by rewarding groups for good performance. Create incentives to work well as a team by giving praise and issuing small tokens of appreciation that bear the project or company name. Alan Orr, author of the book "Advanced Project Management," suggests giving the team publicity for its work. Such a gesture instills a sense of meaning and value into the nature of the job, thereby boosting teamwork among group members.
Encourage Social Activities
Teamwork is enhanced when workers know each other and are comfortable discussing a variety of issues. Build this sense of camaraderie by formulating team activities. These events could be informal, such as meeting together over coffee at the nearby café, or the team building event may be more elaborate by taking place over the weekend at a secluded resort on the outskirts of town.
Outline Clear Roles
Boost teamwork abilities by outlining clear roles for each of the members. Before the project commences, work with the members to outline skill sets and deadline charts. Delineate responsibilities according to ability. Consult with the group regarding the feasibility of the listed tasks as well, which will deduce possible stress arising from unrealistic expectations.
Identify Existing Problems
Gain feedback from the team to assess sources of strife. Examples of problems include one group member being unresponsive, an inability to meet deadlines, conflict over how best to proceed on the project and personality clashes. Though groups might be tempted to let issues sort themselves out over time, such a method may not be optimal. Lisa DiTullio, author of the book, "Project Team Dynamics," advises that problems be handled the moment they arise. Encourage group members to discuss issues collectively instead of letting the problem fester and grow larger.
Mediate Disputes
Provide detailed instructions on how to remedy issues that arise among team members, which boosts teamwork by empowering members to solve issues efficiently and productively. Begin by suggesting that group members talk directly with the person creating any negative effects. Encourage the group to provide clear documentation of any problems as well. From there, team members should give distinct guidelines for how to improve the situation. Instead of creating a culture of blame, foster an attitude of being proactive and solution oriented. For example, if one member repeatedly fails to turn in her portion of the project on time, mandate that she provide daily documentation of what she has completed thus far.
About the Author
Since 2008 Catherine Capozzi has been writing business, finance and economics-related articles from her home in the sunny state of Arizona. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in economics from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, which has given her a love of spreadsheets and corporate life.
Original Link: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/five-ways-improve-teamwork-workplace-13766.html
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