A Beginners Introduction To Teamwork
Strong, positive teamwork is defined by a leader who has a vision and the ability to inspire his or her team to work toward the realization of that vision.
The leader is not threatened in the least by the expertise and diversity of his or her team. Rather, a good team leader engages his or her teammates in a discussion about what quality looks like, what is needed to perform and complete the job, and empowers the team members to always strive for quality improvement.
Let’s break all that down into its component parts. The first is a clearly defined leader. I believe every team must have a leader. There must be someone who is in charge and makes the ultimate decisions.
Team members may take turns being the leader as long as everyone is clear who the leader is on any given day. Another variation of that theme is to have certain people be the leader for projects that are in their area of expertise. However, in every event, there can be no question among teammates who is the leader for that day or project.
The leader needs to have a vision. This is similar to Covey’s second habit, “Begin with the end in mind.” A true leader creates the end product twice—once mentality and then in its actual form. It is impossible to lead toward a fuzzy vision. People are simply not inspired to follow uncertainty.
Having the vision is not enough to inspire teammates to strive toward the same goal. A good team leader knows how to help each teammate see how the end product or service will be useful and what, exactly, their individual contribution is toward that end.
How does the janitor contribute to fans’ enjoyment at a professional baseball game? By providing a clean, neat bathroom experience—that’s how. If the janitor sees himself as a critical cog in the big picture goal and he receives positive recognition for it, then he is more likely to perform his job with enthusiasm.
Another component of being able to inspire one’s teammates is having a clearly defined mission that everyone, preferably, has had a part in developing, but if not, then at least team members can agree to the previously established team mission.
This becomes important in times of conflict between team members. When there is a dispute to be solved, it is helpful to have an already established way to measure the solution. Solutions are always held up against the mission and whether or not it will move the team closer or further from the ultimate goal.
The other advantage of having a mission that has been agreed upon by all team members is that it can enhance cooperation. One of the most difficult things to manage on a team is an individual ego. There can be petty jealousies and a competitive spirit that can kill the cooperation of the best team. The mission statement is a way to minimize this potential for disaster.
The mission remains the focus that everything else is compared to. An individual’s action is either helpful or hurtful to the mission and dealt with accordingly. The group’s goal must always be placed above any individual’s desires or ego. Jealousy and backstabbing have no useful place on a team.
A good leader is in no way threatened by the expertise and diversity of his or her team. The best leaders are always seeking information from the front line people who are doing the actual work. Without information from team members, the leader’s hands are tied behind his or her back.
It is also critical to use team members in their areas of expertise. Leaders can’t know everything about everything. There will be team members who have skills and abilities that surpass those of the leader in certain areas. A good leader will ask for help when it is prudent.
This is also a time to value diversity. Having a team made up of people who all do the same jobs in pretty much the same way really has no value. One person could more easily do the job than assembling a homogenous team.
The value of a team comes from its heterogeneity. Getting feedback and suggestions from people who do things differently is what will spark the creativity and the genius of the team. This is what masterminding is all about. Tap into the wealth that is already there.
Finally, a good leader holds the bar high. He or she does not ask his team to be average or mediocre. Average and mediocre can be easily replaced. The leader asks his or her team to collectively do their very best and when they are done, the leader asks them to always strive for continuous improvement. The work is never done. The team should always be evaluating what has been implemented and be comfortable making suggestions for ways to do it even better.
Previously, I mentioned that a good leader empowers his or her teammates. Creating a need-satisfying environment does this. Team members must get along and know that the leader and the company have their best interests at heart. They must feel important, listened to and respected. They must have the freedom to make choices within the context of their assignments and they must have some fun in their work.
It is also critical for team members to feel safe. This means that they are not fearful in any way. The team leader is critical in fostering this environment for the empowerment of the entire team.
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teamwork solid make better life
team work is the mantra for success in life.
no individual ever became anything single, its’ always been society and team that made things happen
You are right. If there’s no sense of teamwork in the group, goals would not be a possible success.
great article , this tips would be really helpful for handling my team
Great article
Great tips thanks for sharing
Excellent! Thanks.
Thanks really usefull article!I consider teamwork as an essential of any task!
This will surely help me and my team. I really needed tips and pointers like these hope it’ll help me!
I manage a small group of individuals and this article will definitely help us a lot. Thanks for sharing.
Team work is most important thing to get success either in married life playground or business. A good and responsible team always wins.
After reading your post, I have come to know about many new things. Thanks for that.
I not beleive on team work too much , but unfortunately you have to know a lot about this kind of subjects
Nice Idea for letting us know about this introduction to teamwork. Thanks for the effort!
I am a team leader in IT Company, these tips are lot of help me for team leading. I appreciate your work, Keep it up. Thanks for sharing.
In point of view teamwork as an essential for any task!This tips would be really helpful for any one to handle their team.Thanks for this tips.
Wow, team members can take turns being the leader. Boy does that take a secure leader to allow that to happen.
Today’s corporate life is so full of people in leadership roles that are so insecure. Do to easily being threatened, they actually limit and block the growth of the very team members who are supposed to be supporting them in their leadership role in the first place.
These people should be reading more posts and websites such as this!!!
Great post! I had a good time reading your blog along! I am looking forward to read more form you.
That’s right, sometimes it all lays on the good team work. And of course, dedication for each member to meet expected contribution to the team.
Richards
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hi.in my opinion team work is very must fro growing any business.the team work improves the motivation.a motivated person gives the better output.
When there is teamwork the team can surely achieve any team’s goals.
A good leader empowers his or her teammates.
- This my most favorite sentence from your post.
Thanks for sharing this.
Organizations are essentially on every individual working as one and yet so often they fail to capitalize/initiate upon the full capacity of this. A team can establish much more than the sum of its individual members and yet frequently groups of people are seen to achieve less than could have been accomplished by the individual members working alone.
An excellent blog post! The internet would be a better place if people could write as well as you. Keep it up.
“The leader is one who mobilizes others toward a goal shared by leaders and followers. … Leaders, followers and goals make up the three equally necessary supports for leadership.”
I think the line above inspires teamwork.
teamwork is the key to success in a team..there should be unity in order to win the fight….A team must have a leader and members should follow them, if this team has a great understanding with each team member and the leader there’s no doubt, it could result a great output.
I think that Teamwork is a joint action by two or more people, in which each person contributes with different skills and express his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group in order to achieve common goals.
This is a nice article about teamwork and leadership skills. I agree that a leader should have a vision. The Vision helps all the team members to focus on one important goal.
Very well written write-up. I literally enjoyed the concept described in the post. Once again nice work indeed.
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A good leader empowers his or her teammates.
Teamwork is definitely the way to go. This applies to school projects, sports, work, and anything in life.
-Kai Lo
You give the best information.
thank for posting !