Importance of Teamwork at Work - Small Business - Chron.com

Teamwork at the workplace has been demonstrated to increase efficiency, improve communication, expedite idea generation, distribute workload, and establish a ... CultureMusicSportsFood&DrinkEntertainmentLifeHomesNewsWeatherShoppingJobsCarsImportanceofTeamworkatWorkSmallBusiness|ManagingEmployees|TeamworkByTimZimmerUpdatedFebruary04,2019WhatAretheBenefitsofTeamworkonOrganizationEffectiveness?TheUseofTeamworkinanOrganizationTheAdvantagesofGroupWork&TeamworkTeamEffectiveness&IncreasedProductivityTheoriesofEffectiveLeadershipBehaviorBehindeverygreatproductisagreatteam.Likesoccerteammatespassingtooneanothertofindtheperfectshot,eachteammateplaysaspecific,meaningfulrole.Teamworkattheworkplacehasbeendemonstratedtoincreaseefficiency,improvecommunication,expediteideageneration,distributeworkload,andestablishacultureinwhicheachemployeefeelsasenseofbelongingandempowerment.AsAndrewCarnegieoncenoted,teamwork"isthefuelthatallowscommonpeopletoattainuncommonresults."WhatisTeamwork? Initssimplestform,teamworkisanactivityinwhichmembersofanorganizationcometogethertoworktowardacommongoalorsetofgoals.Intoday'sworkenvironment,teamworkcanhappenin-personor(increasingly)online.Itisworthnotingthattoday'steamsaremuchdifferentthantheywereinthepast.Forinstance,today'steamsaremorediverseanddynamic,containinguniqueskillsetsthatbringnewchallengesandopportunities.Asaresult,eachprojectthatrequiresteamworkcanalsoserveasanopportunityforpersonalgrowthandprofessionaldevelopment.Beingdigitallyliterate–orpossessingtheabilitytouseinformationandcommunicationtechnologies–hasbecomeincreasinglyimportantinteamsettings,astechnologydominatestheworkplace.TheBenefitsofTeamwork Thereisnogreaterweaponinacompany'sarsenalthanagreatteam.Whenfiringonallcylinders,effectiveteamshavetheabilitytoincreaseefficiencybytakingonmorecomplextasks(think"twoheadsarebetterthanone"),improvecommunicationbyfacilitatingopendiscussionandcooperationamongteammembers,maximizeoutputbyleveragingeachteammember'sstrengths,provideopportunitiesforpersonalgrowth,andactasasupportmechanismforstaff.Unsurprisingly,teamworkattheworkplacehasalsoshowntoincreaseinnovationandcreativitybyallowingteammemberstobringuniqueanddistinctperspectivestothetable.Whenleveraged,effectiveteamworkdrivescompanygrowthandboostsperformanceandsuccessbytappingintoeachindividual'suniquestrengthsandattributes.FindingtheRightFormulaNotallteamsarecreatedequal.Forinstance,anoverbearingteamleaderorpersonalityclashbetweenteammatescanstifleprogressandbringproductivitytoahalt.Apioneerinorganizationalbehavior,J.RichardHackmandiscoveredthatwhatmattersmosttoteamcohesionisn'tbehavioral;rather,certain"enablingconditions"–arobuststructure,supportiveatmosphere,andcompellingdirection–mustbemetforforteamstoreachtheirfullpotential.Thesethreeconditions,coupledwithasharedmindset,setthestageforasuccessfulteam.Otherfactorsthatspurproductivityincludespeakingandlisteningtoeachmemberequally,usingenergeticgestureswhentalking,collaboratingoutsideformalsettings(suchasofficemeetings),andbeingproactiveindiscussion.ReferencesBuildingaSenseofTeamworkAmongStaffMembersSkillstoPaytheBillsWhyTeamworkisImportantintheWorkplaceFosteringTeamwork:HowFourLeadingCompaniesGetItRightTheSecretsofGreatTeamwork17QuotestoInstantlyInspireTeamworkWhenUnityIsLostResources"BlackEOEJournal";TheImportanceofTeamwork;February2011WriterBioContributorRelatedArticlesCharacteristicsofaHigh-PerformanceTeamTeamMoraleIdeasWhatAreSomeIndoorActivitiesforTeamworkMotivating?HowDoesTeamworkWorkinanOrganization?HowdoIAchieveEffectiveTeamwork?WhatMakesaTeamHeightenItsPerformance?TeamBuildingCommunicationSkillsHowtoMeasureTeamGrowthHowtoBuildaHigh-PerformanceTeamintheWorkplaceWhatAretheBenefitsofTeamworkonOrganizationEffectiveness?TheUseofTeamworkinanOrganizationTheAdvantagesofGroupWork&Teamwork1CharacteristicsofaHigh-PerformanceTeam2TeamMoraleIdeas3WhatAreSomeIndoorActivitiesforTeamworkMotivating?4HowDoesTeamworkWorkinanOrganization?