We have already seen that the use of work teams is on the rise, with well more than half of the U.S. workers reporting working in some sort of a team, as opposed to only 5% of workers in the early 1980s. (Riggio, 2015, p. 336) Teamwork has grown in popularity over the years due to activities that have become more complicated. Individuals who possess some of the skills or abilities will need additional support from others employed within the business. Bringing together several skilled workers who can work together efficiently can bring the best ideas to the table.
Some tasks only require one employee, yet other tasks require skills from a variety of employees. Discerning which tasks need multiple people with different skillsets is the first guideline in creating a capable functioning team. Once a task is identified as a team effort, the next important step is selecting suitably skilled individual members. Good team members should have the kind of attributes that make them highly productive when working together, such as problem-solving abilities, conflict-resolution capability, strong communication skills, and every individual should be self-motivated. A person must be a dedicated team member and pull their own weight. Since not all members of the team will have every desired attribute, the company must spend time and resources on the development and training of team members. It is also highly recommended that businesses cross-train employees so that everyone has similar skills. Cross-training will avoid significant disruption if a member of the team leaves.
The creation of a productive team involves fostering unity and developing positive teamwork attitudes among the participants. A productive team trusts each other to come to a unified decision and they cooperate to achieve the same goal. The struggle for individual recognition will act as a catalyst for the deterioration of a group’s performance. Leadership is a crucial component of building a successful team. The organization may assign the leader, or the team members elect the leader. Sometimes leadership is shared in a coherent way between individuals within the team. However, the leadership position operates, this person or group of people should set critical objectives for team members, present realistic timelines, offer useful constructive criticism, and provide non-bias evaluations for individuals and the group. A leader is there to inspire co-workers, offer guidance, coach the team to be successful, and reward the team when they reach their goals.
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The support of the company also plays a vital role in the success of the team. Emotions, both positive and negative, within the work environment have a significant impact on the team’s performance, engagement, and dedication, and the confidence that the team will be successful. Policies, procedures, and systems set the tone for continuity and unity within the organization. The support provided by the company helps workers feel like they are a valuable asset. Company management, outside of the team, can provide advice and input to make the team more productive. The engagement of senior management should play an essential role in keeping the team focused on achieving a positive outcome.
By identifying the scope of the project, bringing together workers who have the expertise to achieve the task at hand, supporting the team with constructive and effective leadership, and offering corporate support, the success of the team eventually brings success to the entire corporation. This business model allows workers to be happier, the company can retain its highly valuable employees, and the team can deliver results in a quicker timeframe, thereby not only making successful individuals but also making the entire organization prosper.
