HOW TO PROMOTE TEAMWORK IN THE WORKPLACE

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Teamwork changes everything. It’s where people are most creative and where productivity is at its highest. Maybe you know this, but you’re struggling to make it a reality in your workplace. Or maybe it sounds good in theory, but you don’t believe it’s truly important.

• 96% of employees in leadership positions blame lack of collaboration as the top reason for workplace failures.

• Companies that promote collaboration have been linked to reducing employee turnover rates by 50%

• Individuals who collaborate are 50% more effective at completing tasks

But yet, 39% of employees say there’s not enough collaboration in their organisation (Zippia).

This usually isn’t because people don’t like working together, it’s because they’re not being encouraged to do so. So what can you do as a leader to ensure people are making the most of the workplace?

BE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE

There’s no use expecting your employees to be excellent team players if you don’t embody the characteristics that promote it.

Being a team player means getting stuck in, asking others for help, and building genuine relationships that make teamwork so much more natural.

If employees see that you’re a team player, they’re far more likely to be one too.

This also goes for the type of culture you encourage. It’s impossible to encourage team working if you discourage socialising. Your employees need to talk, and that talk oftentimes needs to be unrelated to work because it’s the only way they’re going to create a bond.

Collaborative workplaces have a far more relaxed structure and culture. Creativity is a top priority, meaning people are encouraged to talk, encouraged to laugh, and encouraged to move around. Keep employees engaged and results will come.

GIVE THE TEAM MUTUAL TARGETS

This is probably the easiest way to get people to work together because you give them no choice.

If people have in mind that their career is purely self-serving and they can sit with their headphones on all day because all their targets are individual – they won’t collaborate.

But if you set team goals, making it clear that each person has something valuable and unique to bring to the table – not only will they start to work together, they’ll see the benefit of it.

They’ll begin to realise, “Ben has a great eye for detail, I’m sure he can help me with writing these terms.” Or, “Kiera is so creative with her ideas, when we start this new project, I’m going to book a meeting with her to brainstorm.”

REWARD TEAM SUCCESSES

Individual rewards make individuals feel appreciated. They’re crucial for engagement and retention.  

But if your reward system is constantly centred on one person, it can create a dog-eat-dog culture where people are constantly trying to one-up each other, take credit for each other’s work, and move further and further away from teamwork.

When people feel like they’re a part of a team, and part of something bigger than them, they feel a sense of belonging which makes them put time and effort into their team, both professionally and relationally.

CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEAM MEETINGS

I recently did a blog about 1-1 meetings and I explained how important they are for giving dedicated time to an individual. But that doesn’t mean you ignore team meetings.

Just because your employees sit next to each other doesn’t mean they have a true understanding about:

• Their role and responsibilities

• Their unique skills

• The current projects they’re working on

Having team meetings where you discuss strategies, goals, and plans with the team rather than individually will encourage people to work together because they identify where each person can be of use.

And this isn’t just for your sake as a leader, this is for their careers. If employees can see how valuable and skilled other members are, they’re far more likely to ask for help and learn from them.

Not to mention, this is a great opportunity to discuss the goals of the business, and more specifically, the goals of the team. 1-1 catchups are great to discuss individual goals but unless these goals are tied into how the team as a whole can build something together, people will always be working to the beat of their own drum.

ORGANISE TEAM SOCIALS

If your team has only seen each other in the four walls of the office where they’re wearing a suit and tie, that could be an obvious reason as to why they struggle to bond.

It can be hard to connect with people when all you’re talking about is work (and the odd mention of the weather). Taking the team outside of their general surroundings and encouraging them to get to know each other as people, not just as colleagues, can make a huge difference.

Some ideas are:

• Team lunches: Pop out for an hour and grab a pizza

• After work at the pub: This is one of our favourites. Grab a pint and chat in an informal setting

• Activities: Bowling, laser quest, or even a pub quiz can easily get people out of their comfort zone

It doesn’t have to be something extravagant, just making the conscious effort to create a fun culture can encourage the team to make friends and feel more comfortable reaching out to them at work

TACKLE UNDERLYING CONFLICT

You can organise as many trips to your local pizza place as you want, but if there are people within your team that have underlying conflicts – things will stay the same.

Maybe there are close-knit relationships within the team but the overall team doesn’t seem to mix well – it’s time to address it. This isn’t to say people can’t have special bonds with people at work and, that’s a good thing since 63% say friends make work more enjoyable (Wildgoose), but this should never isolate them from the rest of the team.

As a leader, conflict resolution should be a top priority, no matter how uncomfortable it is.

RECONSIDER YOUR OFFICE LAYOUT

Cool offices are the new trend – especially among startups. And of course, the cinema rooms, beanbags, and vending machines are a great addition, something as simple as open-plan layouts can bring people together.

You probably remember the traditional offices with dedicated desks and dividers that block off each department, and sometimes each person. Believe it or not, those can be a huge hinder to teamwork.

If you can’t see someone or they’re too far away to speak to – you just won’t. You might see them in the kitchen as you make a coffee, but chances are, you won’t ask for help on that project you’re working on.

Change your office to one with shared desks, no dividers, and even break-out spaces where people can sit for lunch, or even just catchup with a colleague.

- Written by Oliver Howson

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