As a leader, is teamwork a core value in your organization? Teamwork is a strong differentiator. It defines the mission of a company – for employees as well as customers. Teamwork in life and in business, improves life. It is a very positive influencer of our motivation and behavior. Reflect on the number of people who influence you, bring out the best in you, and show you the power of teamwork.
In my professional opinion, teamwork is one of the most critical leadership skills to have and enhance. We learn teamwork from our parents, siblings, friends, teachers and mentors, as well as true friends. They all have a key spot on our team, and we on theirs. The success we achieve in life is the result of caring people who taught us, and impact us every day.
Remember the coach in grade school or high school who defined teamwork for you and held you accountable for it. Sports teach us the lessons of winning and losing. It helps us cope with the ups and downs of business; we learn to win, even when we lose. The essence of teamwork is putting your teammates before yourself. The truest and greatest accomplishments in life and business DO NOT HAPPEN ALONE!
Sometimes in life and in business, we learn more when we lose. We all share the mission of making a difference. To fulfill that mission, we need support and help of those all around us, our team. Teamwork is a shared experience and collaborative learning. The team works together to resolve issues win or lose to reach key business objectives and take advantage of complementary skills. It is a dynamic business, employee, and customer journey.
Successful teams achieve synergy and exceed the sum of each individual contribution. Remember: Teamwork on the inside, beats teamwork on the outside. Take the time to define what success means to your organization. Teams are fact driven and share insights. Teams create a common purpose by defining the score card for winning and challenge the status quo.
They leverage technology and focus on the human connection. Teams view each other as partners. They work together to break down organizational roadblocks across all functions. Teamwork entails integrating different personalities that listen to each other’s views and ideas. Teamwork makes the dream work as they say, which motivates employees. Teamwork is not a soft concept. It requires the ability to communicate well, control your ego and actively listen, and to be professionally candid and honest both in life and in business.
Approach each day in an empathetic manner. When we build rapport it leads to deeper working relationships, which fosters support and understanding. In teamwork it is important to hone your ability to be aware of team dynamics at all times and to ensure that all teammates are being involved, actively participating, and that all team members are equal and have an equal voice.
A teamwork culture creates a space so that all teammates feel comfortable contributing and utilizing their unique skills, experience, and ability. Every employee has a voice, a voice that wants to be heard and listened to! I wonder how many employees feel that they are not listened to. What a loss! Listening engenders trust, instills higher job satisfaction, and increases a team’s creativity. Successful organizations know that listening–to the pluses and minuses–is critical to retaining employees.
Listening to employees and all team members can be more than an eye-opening experience. It opens the door to progress and innovation. Failing to listen can equate to lost talent. Giving a team the opportunity to address issues and challenges allows them to think through problems, come up with creative solutions, and share a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
T = Together
E = Each
A = Accomplishes
M = More
