Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way. This concept is seen within the greater framework of a team, which is a group of interdependent individuals who work together towards a common goal.
There are many qualities that define good teamwork. It is important to focus on goals and results and ensure that everyone contributes their fair share. Teams also work best when they offer each other support and are very diverse. Good leadership is also very important, as it takes a good leader to lead a good team. Organization is imperative to ensuring that team members are on top of their work and deadlines.
Leadership and teamwork have a direct impact on the ability for an organization to carry out its mission. You need leadership to make sure everyone on your team is going in the same direction and working towards the same goal. Good leadership motivates team members to use their talents. It is important to employ the right people. If creating an environment where team spirit is central, the employment process should be the first place to start. Other ways to build team leadership include doing activities like eating lunch and having social events together. It helps teammates establish relationships on a deeper level and it helps establish trust. Workshops can also be useful and help team members gain further knowledge and perfect their craft. Sharing praise and feedback is important, as it is necessary for team members to know what they are doing wrong to work on improving it.
Motivation plays a big role in instilling teamwork as well. Pay your people what they are worth aids in creating motivation. When people are paid what they are worth, they feel more included to work to their best abilities. Provide teammates with a pleasant place to help give them an environment to flourish and grow to become the best employees they can be. In the same token, employers can offer opportunities for self-development and foster collaboration within the team to optimize growth. Encouraging happiness, not punishing failure, and not micromanaging helps foster growth and allows the employees room to improve on their skills. This not only helps the employees, but the company as a whole.
References
https://leadership.deakin.edu.au/resources/top-10-qualities-of-a-good-team-leader
Amanda Daniels says
Qwenada,
Great blog post! I think that many leaders within a working setting would benefit from classes about instilling teamwork. A great leader and a great team can do anything. An article by the Harvard Business Review makes a compelling statement that personalities, behaviors, and attitudes are not the most important factors for good collaboration. That enabling conditions is what a team needs to thrive. These conditions include: a compelling direction, a strong structure, a shared mindset, and a supportive context (The Secrets of Great Teamwork).
As you mentioned, motivation is key to creating a great team environment. Team motivation is not only about a collective phenomenon but also an individual’s motivational state (Spitzmuller & DeShon, 2013). To motivate is a huge asset to possess and I do not think that everyone has the same ability to motivate. I think that we can learn techniques and implement them but I do think that sometimes there is an innate gift that some people have. Those people are the ones, whether in a leader position or a follower, that enhance a team.
References
Park, G., Spitzmuller, M., & DeShon, R. P. (2013). Advancing Our Understanding of Team Motivation: Integrating Conceptual Approaches and Content Areas. Journal of Management, 39(5), 1339–1379. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206312471389
“The Secrets of Great Teamwork.” Harvard Business Review, 18 Mar. 2019, hbr.org/2016/06/the-secrets-of-great-teamwork.