A Guest Post by Wilson Cambell
Popular businesses these days focus around certain “teams” to keep projects going, or to make sure everything that needs getting done can be accomplished. How many of these teams know how to function like a real team? A functioning team isn’t a group of people who are randomly put together expected to work perfectly within the first couple of tasks. A team consists of a group of people who share the same basic goals on projects, have similar work habits, and can work as a cohesive unit.
Businesses can only survive when the weakest team is able to come together and produce something great. The best way to create the “golden team” is to have the right environment for the team to be productive in. The more comfortable a group of people are together in a room, the easier they will be able to communicate and create great products.
Humans Are Not Gears
Many companies feel that if one part of a team is not functioning properly, they can just pluck them out from the group, and insert a replacement. Sadly, the humans do not work like. A company cannot just assume that because one person out shined another in a task, that person is absolutely going to be a more productive team member.
If a team starts lacking in productivity, it can be more effective to have a group discussion about the team’s collective weaknesses, than to simply replace what first appears to be the weak link. Good communication skills are critical to a well functioning team and will help keep the business afloat.
Create Better Work Areas
Many teams find that if they work in a plain office with a simple desk and chairs, they can get more done. Other teams may work will in a coffee shop chatting casually in street clothes and loafers. Finding the key work environment for each team will increase the productivity of any company. If some people need more breaks, allow them more breaks. Find the little things that will boost morale.
If all of the team members are happy, they will feel more comfortable and focused on their work. When team members can work without issues, more work can be accomplished. Much like a gear in a watch, if the team can run smoothly, without conflict, more work can pass in and out of their work boxes making them akin to a smoothly running machine.
Team Exercises
When that one golden group is finally acquired, and a work schedule has been developed and tested: keep them busy. This doesn’t mean slamming them with work daily, or never giving them different options. Make it so two or three days of the work week can be devoted to either brainstorming or getting to know the team better.
Simple team building exercises work for newly created teams, and veteran teams who have accomplished a great deal of work together. The exercises never need to be complex; something as simple has playing with Legos or having a 15 minute Nerf gun fight can allow the team to have small bits of bonding time.
When companies can start treating their team members like an actual team, they will see their productivity soar. The mind isn’t always in a working state. If there come crunch times, letting the team go run up and down the halls, or do something away from the desk will open their minds.
Giving your teams the freedom to work and play together will build good communication skills within the team that will expand into the company. Trust will start to grow when the members of the team feel the company respects their choices, gives them the space to excel and respects their need to bond as a team.
Author Byline:
The article is written by Wilson Campbell. Wilson is an HR counsellor, who specializes in team building and team building activities, employee engagement and time management. He is also an expert in resolving the concerns and considerations of employees.
