Talk about any masterpiece of the world — the biggest mega structures, cloud-hugging skyscrapers, or even blockbuster hits like Titanic, or The Avengers. What do you think is the force that made the creation of such marvelous wonders possible? It’s quality teamwork. Everything that went into these works of art was a result of collective efforts put in by people who worked on these projects.
Similarly, corporate success today relies heavily on the quality of teamwork. But it takes effort to harness the potential of each and every person in the group and utilize it to reap the maximum benefits.
One of the golden rules of making teamwork successful is to have ideal channels of communication to promote idea sharing. That’s what holds the key to get everyone to make real contributions and come up with original ideas.
Teamwork is best when everyone collaborates personally in a real time manner. It encourages spontaneity in discussions which brings out the best in everyone.
We also know that with remote working becoming more popular every day, it is not always possible for teams to be physically present all the time. That’s what video conferencing, teleconferencing, and instant messaging are for. And while they cannot replace face-to-face conversations, they sure have made communication processes a lot simpler.
It’s important to understand the anatomy of group efforts in order to make everyone work enthusiastically. Otherwise, some people may find their voice getting muffled. They may feel unheard, especially when teams are big in size.
Signs of Quality Teamwork
Below are some signs that are indicative of quality teamwork. Take a look:
1. Listening
Remember, the sign of a healthy, functioning team is that people don’t just talk, they listen to each other, too. Both things are equally important to make effective communication a reality.
2. Every Opinion Matters
Each and every individual’s personal opinion matters and is considered crucial. No one dominates others in terms of imposing their views or ideas. Everyone gets to share their thoughts and ideas.
3. Team Members Communicate with Each Other
Instead of getting the ideas across via the team leader only, people are not hesitant to speak directly with each other and say what they have to say. The team leader is not the only point of interaction. There is more direct communication among team members.
4. Team Success Trumps Individual Success
Although everyone’s contribution is considered critical for the overall output, the team’s eventual success is always seen as more important than everyone’s individual success. Everybody is very clear that they are not working for personal gains, but for the success of the larger group.
5. There is No I in Team
There is no ‘I’ in the teamwork, and there is no competition within team members.
6. Compromise
In teams, differences of opinion are bound to happen. But, people are not hesitant to compromise despite those differences to avoid the team’s failure.
7. Common Goals
Teams are made up of distinct individuals who will always have diverse opinions, which at times can be conflicting. But despite those differences, everyone shares common goals. Team success and individual success are not different and everyone works collectively for the attainment of common goals.
8. Clear Expectations
Team members are clear on the goal. They know exactly what is expected from them.
9. Anticipating Problems and Accepting Change
In high functioning teams, there are fewer instances of complaining because people are better at anticipating problems and coming up with ways to tackle them. They know that work will never end, and neither will problems, so they might as well accept them and work on resolving them. There is lesser resistance to change because of the knowledge that change is constant.
Without people, there is no teamwork. Just like even the tiniest component is integral for the overall functioning of a machine, every individual is an indispensable part of a group.
About the Author
Shikha Menwal is a writer for ProofHub. She has a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences and writes on topics ranging from lifestyle to technology and management.
