This is a question on the lips of business leaders as parts of the world begin to emerge from lockdown. One thing hasn't changed despite so much uncertainty. Most organizations have responded to COVID-19 by doubling down on their human resources.
Already, it is making a
difference. Ninety percent of companies believe their cultures have improved by
working remotely, according to a recent study. Employee Experience will
continue to be a priority as remote work becomes a return-to-work option.
Making sure employees are
empowered to collaborate in highly effective ways is one-way organizations can
positively influence wider EX. Because of the uncertainty about the global
pandemic, companies will have to figure out how to deal with this challenge for
employees working full-time on-site, working full-time from home, or combining
the two.
How to improve teamwork skills
Some tips for improving
teamwork skills were important before remote work became common, and they
remain relevant as some parts of the world begin to return to the workplace.
1. Clarify your team's goals and mission
The shared mission must be
understood and accepted by all members, above their own interests. Leading
clearly and compellingly is a leader's responsibility. Success is less likely
to be achieved without it. What is the importance of setting individual
targets? Sure. Teamwork can only succeed if everyone commits to a common goal.
It starts falling apart when someone's ego exceeds the shared purpose in some
of the most successful rock bands in history.
2. Identify roles clearly
Everyone in the team
should know their roles and responsibilities, as well as their strengths, and
be confident about them.
You need to make pragmatic
decisions about team size and structure. It's not enough to rely on a few key
individuals and some luck. Too little experience, thinking styles and
behaviours will make your team unbalanced. Having too many people on a team may
lead to people becoming lazy and more likely to groupthink. If a team structure
isn't working, it helps to set some boundaries. This way, you can respond
quickly if the structure isn't working. As an example, you might decide to
impose a strict limit on the number of team members, meaning that if someone
joins, someone else must leave, preventing the team from becoming unwieldy.
Keeping the mixture of ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders
varied is also important.
3. Engage ineffective communication
The recent explosion of
remote working has increased the importance of communication in teamwork. Many
people are returning to the workplace while others continue to work from home,
creating new challenges and opportunities.
The fact that we are
geographically separated can impact our communication as we receive fewer
non-verbal cues. Richard Hackman highlighted the issue of incomplete
information in his article on the secrets of great teamwork. They use
non-verbal and contextual cues to elaborate on what's going on in face-to-face
teams. This quality can be excelled if one pursues business management courses online and a diploma in businessmanagement online.
The sense of camaraderie
that is built by famous bands and sports teams can be attributed to good
communication.
4. Resolve conflicts
Conflict occurs
occasionally on all teams. Effectively managing and resolving conflict is the
key to success. You can once again demonstrate leadership by dealing with
conflict promptly and empathically as it arises. When conflict arises, it is
essential to refocus on the shared goal(s) of the team.
5. Reward teamwork and recognize it
Knowing when a team is
succeeding is crucial. In addition to extrinsic rewards - such as bonuses - you
can also recognize good performance with intrinsic rewards, such as praise from
senior leaders. This will reinforce a sense of team cohesion if you make it
clear that rewards are for the whole team.
6. Foster an environment of openness and trust
There are many traditional
team-building activities that focus on trust, whether it's setting up a tent
blindfolded or having people stare into each other's eyes. Trust is a
prerequisite for team success, so there's a good reason for this. Your teams
will struggle to communicate efficiently and solve problems if they don't.
By encouraging people to
speak freely without fear of a snarky or angry response, trust will begin to
build. When people are less afraid of speaking up, insights and creativity will
also begin to flow.
When it comes to
team-building days, the American Psychological Association recommends that you
concentrate on improving interpersonal relationships, clarifying roles, and
increasing problem-solving skills.
7. Offer constructive criticism
A skill is giving
effective feedback. Unfortunately, most people struggle with it. However,
practice makes perfect. If teams receive constructive feedback, they will grow
and develop much faster than if they are only criticized or left to wonder how
they are doing.
8. Be responsible
Is it important for your
team members to carry out their responsibilities when working on team projects?
Provide examples. This quality can be excelled if one pursues business management courses online and a diploma in
business management online. It is important to know what your
role entails and doesn't entail, and to accept responsibility for mistakes and
successes as well. You shouldn't blame others if you see your people doing it.
9. Accountability for everyone
To be accountable, the
team must have clearly defined roles, and people must know their roles and
responsibilities.
By accepting where things don't go as planned and celebrating team successes, leaders can demonstrate accountability. Employees feel more comfortable taking risks if their leaders are accountable. Be supportive of those who disagree with you and value differences of opinion.