“Two heads are better than one.” This wise adage encourages teamwork. How does working together help you? Salesmen thrive off healthy competition. Sometimes the use of teamwork in the workplace is a better answer for winning sales. For many individuals, working as a team is more rewarding than working alone. Employees tend to be more productive and demonstrate more commitment and loyalty to their company when they see themselves as members of a team rather than as individuals working in seclusion.
There is no “I” in team, but teamwork can still benefit employees on a personal level. Do not allow competitive natures to get in the way of personal growth in the workplace. Understand how to resolve conflicts and trust teammates to contribute their best ideas. Learn from your team members and build on each other’s skills to create more impressive results in the workplace. Here are six ways that teamwork benefits you in the workplace.
1.
Blends Complementary
Strengths-Working
together lets employees build on the talents of their teammates. While your
strength may be creative thinking, a coworker might shine in organization and
planning. Do not hesitate to share your abilities with the team.
Often,
a team works well together because team members rely on each other to bring
individual talents to the table. By observing the process behind these skills,
you can learn how to combine your gifts and become a stronger team. Every time
you see your coworkers utilize a different approach, you have a chance to
adjust or improve your methods.
2.
Builds Trust-Relying on other
people builds trust, and teamwork establishes strong relationships with
coworkers. Despite occasional disagreements a team can enjoy working together
as they share a strong bond. When you put your trust in a coworker, you are
establishing the foundation of a relationship that can endure minor conflicts.
Trusting your teammates also provides a feeling of safety that allows ideas to
emerge.
It
helps employees open up and encourage each other. Open communication is key
when working on a team and produces effective solutions in difficult group
projects. Without trust, a team crumbles and cannot succeed on assigned
projects. Great teams build each other up and strengthen individual members to
create a cohesive group. By working together, employees learn that wins and
losses affect everyone on the team. Teamwork necessitates confidence in each
other’s distinct abilities.
3.
Encourages Healthy
Risk-Taking-An
employee working on a project alone will probably not want to stick their neck
out for an off-the-wall idea. If the project fails when working solo, that
employee takes the full brunt of the blame. While you may not get full credit
for a successful team project, working with other people spreads out the
responsibility for a failed assignment.
Working
as a team allows team members to take more risks as they have the support of
the entire group to fall back on in case of failure. Conversely, sharing
success as a team is a bonding experience. Once a team succeeds together, their
brainstorming sessions will produce revolutionary ideas without hesitation. In
many cases, the riskiest idea turns out to be the best idea. Teamwork allows
employees the freedom to think outside the
box.
4.
Fosters Creativity
and Learning-Brainstorming
your ideas together as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of
working solo. Combining unique perspectives from each team member creates more
effective selling solutions. What you have learned from your individual
experiences is entirely different from your coworkers.
Teamwork
maximizes shared knowledge in the workplace and helps you learn new skills you
can use for the rest of your career. Collaborating on a project creates an
enthusiasm for learning that solitary work usually lacks. Being able to share
discoveries with the rest of your team excites employees and fosters both
individual and team knowledge.
5.
Promotes a Wider
Sense of Ownership-Team projects encourage employees to feel proud of their
contributions. Tackling obstacles and creating notable work together makes team
members feel fulfilled. Working toward achieving company goals allows employees
to feel connected to the company. This builds loyalty, leading to a higher
level of job satisfaction among employees. Teamwork is not just helpful for
employees.
It
benefits the employer in the long run as well. Employees that connect directly
with their workplace are more likely to stay with the company. While employees
leaving their jobs often cite a lacking salary, another common complaint is
that their contributions do not seem to matter. Teamwork allows people to
engage with the company and add to the bottom money line.
6.
Teaches Conflict
Resolution Skills-Conflicts
inevitably happen when you put together a group of unique people. Employees
come from varied backgrounds and have different work styles and habits. While
these unique viewpoints create the most successful work, they can also generate
resentment that quickly turns into conflict.
When
conflict arises in teamwork situations, employees are forced to resolve the
conflicts themselves instead of turning to management. Learning conflict
resolution
firsthand is a skill that employees can use to become efficient managers down
the road.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision; the ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” (Andrew Carnegie)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“6 Benefits of Teamwork in the Workplace” By Dave Mattson
·
“The Advantages of Being a Team Member” by Freddie Silver
·
“Top 11 Benefits of
Teamwork in Workplace” by ProofHub
This topic was
suggested by friend and blog member, Eric Rose.
No comments:
Post a Comment