Throughout life, you will experience teamwork, whether on the cricket pitch, at home with the family, at a social gathering and of course the workplace. Aside from the family, where do we most encounter the necessity of working in a team, 9 to 5 every week? (unless you’re a recruiter, then it’s more 7:30am till 7:00pm).
From all these experiences we know what can result from a poorly functioning team – lack of communication, trust issues, selfish behaviour and even bullying. No one wants that!
But you always remember the teams that work, the one that functions like a well-oiled machine. Just like the Crows AFL team did back in 97 & 98, with back to back grand final wins, it was like watching poetry in motion.
What are the top 4 advantages of a great team?
Efficiency
Teams in a workplace environment tend to work towards a common goal. Utilizing each members’ key strengths helps the tasks become completed at a much more efficient rate. For example, if there is a problem faced along the way there are more ‘hands on deck’ to help solve the issue. Secondly, having multiple team members on board allows you to get the work done faster with more shared responsibilities.
Ideas
Ever heard the saying two heads are better than one? Well, why not three, or four? If the heads are working well together it enables the team to pull together years of experience from various backgrounds to come to a result quicker, more accurately (through peer revision) and with more knowledge attached.
Learning
Teamwork is important in the workplace as it brings people together from different backgrounds and levels of experience. Consequently, projects which involve teamwork serve also as an opportunity for professional development and learning. I personally believe individual team members serve as educational resources to other employees in a team environment.
Support
It is inherently important for most humans to have a sense of belonging in a workplace, which as a result can greatly improve job satisfaction. Team members will help each other, they will rely on each other, and develop relationships that will extend beyond the workplace. During difficult and often stressful times, they are the readily available support that people need, which can be detrimental to the project. When team members can look to each other for the support they are able to focus easier on the main project itself, and the overall goal of success. If a challenging project is handled by yourself, you are at risk of becoming overwhelmed and making irrational decisions.
Too often in recruiting do we see dissatisfied candidates wanting to shift from their current position due to a lack of support, lack of teamwork and a lack of sharing ideas. I could spend all day writing this blog on how effective teamwork can help in a workplace is vital to success, but then…. I wouldn’t be contributing to my team much today.
And if you’re thinking that the team that you’re in isn’t for you, give me a bell to find better.
