Supervisory Management Unit 6
Sure, a group of people working on a project can complete it, and will do a fairly reasonable job. But, your work groups are greatly limiting themselves, and putting your company's reputation on the line (in terms of quality work and delivery), if they aren't working as a team. So, how exactly do you get a group of employees to come together and work as a team? Motivation and productivity will increase when your employees support each other and work together; but, building an effective team is a process, and isn't something that will come together in a few days' time. Here are a few steps to get started on building effective teams in the workplace.
Meet with the group -
Step one is meeting with the group. During this sit down meeting, you want to discuss how working as a team will benefit everyone. It will increase productivity, reduce the amount of time it takes to complete tasks, help increase satisfaction within the group, and help increase productivity. During this time,it is also a good idea to ask employees if they have any suggestions as to how to build a better team.
Getting input from those who are actually going to be working together, will help build a cohesive unit, and mesh everyone together. Not only that, but if certain members of the group aren't comfortable with others, this is a good time to air out differences between employees, with managers present. This will allow people to confront one another, and discuss their differences, in order for them to eventually learn how to work together, in order to build a better team, and in order to build a unit that is going to accomplish the desired goals that the company has in mind.
Explain benefits to the company -
You want your group to know the work they produce, will reflect on the company. When it is well done, this will result in benefits to the team as well. Whether it is performance bonuses, extra time off work (at year's end), pay raises, or other benefits in the form of physical or monetary returns, will give more of an incentive for them to work together. Regardless of what the benefits are, if they are aware they will receive them, employees are more likely to work well together. And, when employees are aware of different benefits that will come their way if they reach certain goals, they are going to work harder in order to receive these benefits. So, their hard work is going to benefit the organization, and in the end, it is also going to be beneficial for each of the individual members who are working together as a team.
Develop different goals for the teams -
It is a good idea to set up small teams within the group, and have them meet specific goals. Whether it is completing a report by a certain deadline, increasing sales by a percentage, or any other goal you set, when teams have goals to reach (rather than working aimlessly), they are more willing to work together to attain that goal. Establishing metrics to determine success, and how well the teams gauge against one another, also provides some bonus (friendly) competition, that may further push them to work together.
Determine how goals can be met -
Set up weekly meetings. Redefine jobs within the team. Creating new tasks for different members to complete. Regardless of the different ways you come up with how to reach goals, if each person has a set job to complete, and if you continually find ways to improve workflow, employees will find it easier to work as a team, so they can meet said goals.
Inform them of progress -
Weekly meetings, regular feedback, positive reinforcement, and other manners exist, in which you can keep the team informed as to whether or not they are meeting their goals, and how well they are working together. If they aren't meeting goals, try offering solutions or changes which can be made, in order for them to be met. If they are doing a good job, let them know. If they aren't meeting goals, it is also important to let them know, and make suggestions so changes can be made, and work will be done more efficiently.
Properly pair your team members -
If you have two individuals who don't see eye to eye, or simply can't get on the same page for a particular project, why would you force them to work together? Rather, look for the employees that mesh well together, and the individuals whose skills compliment one another's. Doing this will allow the pairs to work well together, and will allow smaller pairs to work individually, to eventually attain the overall team goal. Not only does pairing people up within the team right result in more efficient workflow, it will also result in a more amicable workplace, and employees will tend to get along better, when they are working with other team members who they feel comfortable around and working with.
Celebrate small goals -
Remember, the end goal is to get them to feel like a team, and want to work together. What better way than to reward them, and celebrate small goals. Hold a small office party when they finish a big project together. Make sure to thank team members for their work (you would be surprised how a thank you goes a long way). Regardless of how small the goal is, reward, celebrate, and thank them for their hard work.
You won't build a team, out of an individual group, in a few day's time, or even a few weeks. But, implementing new steps gradually, and finding ways to implement team tasks into the workplace, will eventually get your employees to work together, and become a more cohesive team unit. Not only will this benefit them, and help improve the workplace attitude, but it also benefits the company, as work is done more efficiently, and employees perform better within their new team roles.