If you want to reach your organisation’s full potential and enhance your team’s performance, you have to invest time and energy in cultivating employees that collaborate effectively with each other. As a mindful leader, it is your task to understand how the members of your organisation work best and cultivate a sense of self-leadership in each one of them.
A good team is the foundation of a successful business. It provides an organisation with thought diversity, creativity, perspective, and an abundance of opportunities. Meanwhile, a good team environment fosters collective brainstorming, which in turn increases the ability to problem solve and arrive at solutions more effectively and efficiently.
Geniuses vs. Ordinary People
After years of managing people, one key thing I have learned is that you don’t need geniuses in your team, you need regular people who know how to work well with each other. Good teamwork makes “ordinary” people extraordinary. In fact, I would choose to work with a good team over a genius 99% of the time.
We often see environments where employees become focused on promoting their own achievements and competing against their colleagues. This is often the result of people who lack self-awareness and are unable to master their emotions. The result? An unhealthy and inefficient workplace that slowly brings down your business and your brand.
Having motivated people around you is important to achieving your business goals. If you want to build a successful team, here are three tried-and-tested strategies I personally employ:
1. Nurture a Psychologically Safe Working Environment
Truly successful teams consist of leaders and members who actively listen to the concerns and needs of their fellows and value each other’s contributions. Transparency and open communication in the workplace is essential to create a safe and productive work environment.
I like to encourage my team to speak up, ask questions and be more proactive. Fostering an environment where your team members feel safe when sharing their thoughts and ideas may take time but you will be surprised by the creativity and innovation that will arise from this. During meetings is one of the best times to build rapport. I like to ask my team about their personal projects, hobbies or whatever it is they are currently working on so that everyone can get to know each other better.
2. Offer constructive criticisms and don’t let small conflicts go untreated.
The best teams are made of leaders and members who show sensitivity and most importantly, listen to one another. While it is important to nurture a comfortable and non-stressful atmosphere at work, it is also important that every member is aware of their responsibilities and takes their tasks seriously.
Great teams show respect for one another’s emotions and openly contribute to conversations equally. If ever tension arises in the workplace, address it appropriately in a way that empowers the members of your organisation.
3. Foster a Sense of Belonging
This is so important to me as I want to have a workplace based on trust, support, respect, and cooperation. To do this, I go out of my way to strengthen my team’s sense of belonging in the workplace.
By having a shared goal, cooperation and mutual support, workplace synergy is developed. I make it a point to celebrate small wins with my team, appropriately reward good work, and regularly check in with my people.
I notice that when my team members feel valued in the organisation, they are more motivated to contribute and grow with the team. In turn, they are happier and more productive which leads to good results for the company as a whole. Really, the simple act of treating people well, which includes encouraging them to grow in their career and personal lives, is going to produce nothing but positive results.
One Final Note
When you support your people and make them aware of the significance of their work and how they are relied upon by the organisation and their other team members, they will be inspired to work and strive to accomplish your shared objectives.
What do you do to foster teamwork in your organisation? I would love to hear your thoughts on this one!
