Transformational Leadership Blog

Teams have become an important part of business and organizational operations. And why not? Teams have the potential to increase individual performance of workers and employees! When one person works with a team, he or she is given a chance to work with other who can support, encourage and even challenge the way he works! That way, the output will be of a better quality than if it was done alone.

Here are fifteen ingredients of effective teamwork that a leader should nurture in the teams within an organization.

Open communication. In any collaborative effort, communicating openly is a very important component of the process. This factor helps create the ideal environment for teamwork to actually work!

Balanced team membership. The strengths and weaknesses of the team members should complement each other. This way, at least one person could work on each important aspect of the tasks of the team.

Good working relationships. Team members need to work together harmoniously. Personal differences and opinions can differ at times. But don’t allow these to affect good working relationships. Friction in the team actually gives team members the opportunity to practice professionalism and collegiality.

Creativity. Discover creativity in your team. If it seems to be lacking, then you, as the leader needs to create it! Do some brainstorming sessions and out-of-the-box situations that could help foster creativity in the group.

Fun. As a consequence of creativity, team members will have fun while working together. Fun also helps keep the drudgery away. Most of the time, passionate people know how to have fun even while at work.

Results-orientation. It is good to have fun while working yet, the achievement of results should never be compromised. But actually, results can be the natural consequence of creativity and fun tempered by the other ingredients of effective team work.

Good leadership. The leader’s task is primarily to assign tasks and identify the right people to do the right kinds of part. When you lead a team, be careful to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your people.

Loyalty to the team. This depends largely in the working environment that the leader helps create. When team members are loyal to the team, they tend to set aside extreme individualism, thus facilitating a smoother working relationship.

Clear goals and targets. Team members should have clear goals and targets so that team members know what they are working for and when they should be delivered.

Clear expectations. When team members know exactly what is expected from them, they can manage their workload and work more effectively and more efficiently.

Commitment. When team members are committed to the appointed tasks, the team becomes more intentional in completing these tasks. Even when they encounter setbacks and difficulties, the team can persevere and do what is necessary.

Competence. Team members and the team in general should have a level of competence so that the tasks can be accomplished more easily and efficiently.

Collaboration. Imagine a team without collaboration. That’s not a team at all, it is merely a collection of obstinate individuals.

Coordination of efforts. A team member’s task should be clear and well coordinated. Otherwise, the tasks of each member would be confusing and overlapping.

Mutual support. Effective teamwork presupposes mutual support. After all, when one member finds his tasks difficult, the other members can come to his aid and help him figure things out.

Effective teamwork can improve the overall productivity of the organization. When several teams work in concert with each other, then the overall organization will experience growth and increased productivity.

Related posts:

1. The Top Ten Characteristics of the Soloist Leader
2. Ten Steps to Effective Decision-Making
3. Start Here! The Road to Transformational Leadership