TEAMWORK Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the

TEAMWORK "Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success. " -Author Unknown

WHY IS TEAMWORK IMPORTANT?

Creates Synergy, Less Hierarchy • Creates synergy • Supports an empowered way of working • Promotes less hierarchy among employees • Encourages multi-disciplinary work • Fosters flexibility and responsiveness • Pleases customers who like working with teams • Promotes sense of achievement

Output Quality, Morale, and Retention • There a number of downsides to working alone that affect output quality and morale: • Working alone makes it harder to get early and continual • • • design feedback, thereby decreasing output quality. Working alone reduces learning. Working on a team increases the bus factor for a project. Working on a team increases accountability. Slower project momentum from working alone reduces morale. The highs of a project are motivating when working as a team. The lower morale from solo projects also tends to mean lower employee happiness and consequently lower retention.

TEAMWORK AT WORK

Bond • Teamwork provides employees with an opportunity to bond with one another, which improves relations among them. • Workers feel valued upon the successful completion of tasks. • Enhances respect for each other. • Increases cohesion among members, thanks to increased trust among team members.

Teamwork helps employees… • Bond—becoming more familiar with each other • Cooperate—Learning how to work together.

Cooperate • Opportunity for new workers to learn from more experienced employees. • Acquire skills that didn’t have previously. • Challenge each others’ ideas. • Find solution that contributes to successful completion of task. • Reduces work pressure for individual workers.

Important for Company and Employee • Teamwork is important and vital to the success of the company and to the development of each employee. • Delegation • Efficiency • Ideas • Support

Delegation • Divide up tasks so most qualified person completes them. • Accomplish job tasks the best way possible. "There are few, if any, jobs in which ability alone is sufficient. Needed, also, are loyalty, sincerity, enthusiasm and team play. " -William B. Given, Jr.

Efficiency • A task is given to an efficient team and the team's work pace assures that it will be completed quickly and accurately. • Result: The company can take on more work and generate more revenue. • Employee’s level of interest also positively influences efficiency or speed of output.

Ideas • Teams meet to discuss how to solve company issues. • Staff members feel comfortable brainstorming. • Company benefits from suggestions.

Support • Strong team environment can act as a support mechanism for staff members. • Help each other improve performance and professional development. • Team members rely on and trust each other.

AN EFFECTIVE TEAM PLAYER What defines such people?

Demonstrates Reliability • Gets work done • Does fair share to work hard and meet commitments. • Follows through on assignments. • Consistency is key. • Delivers good performance all the time.

Communicates Constructively • Speaks up and expresses thoughts and ideas clearly, directly, honestly, and with respect for others and for the work of the team. • Does not shy away from making a point but makes it in the best way possible—in a positive, confident, and respectful manner.

Listens Actively • Can absorb, understand, and consider ideas and points of view from other people without debating and arguing every point. • Receives criticism without reacting defensively. • Team members need the discipline to listen first and speak second so that meaningful dialogue results.

Functions as an Active Participant • Comes prepared for team meetings and listens and speaks up in discussions. • Fully engaged in the work of the team and does not sit passively on the sidelines. • Takes the initiative to help make things happen, and volunteers for assignments. • Approach is can-do: "What contribution can I make to help the team achieve success? "

Shares Openly and Willingly • Willing to share information, knowledge, and experience. • Takes the initiative to keep other team members informed. • Needs to feel comfortable talking with one another and passing along important news and information day-to-day. • Keeps other team members in the loop with information and has expertise that helps get the job done and prevents surprises.

Cooperates and Pitches in to Help • Works with others and acts together to accomplish a job. • Despite differences may have with others concerning style and perspective, figures out ways to work together to solve problems and get work done. • Responds to requests for assistance and takes the initiative to offer help.

Exhibits Flexibility • Adapts to ever-changing situations. • Doesn’t complain or get stressed out because something new is being tried or some new direction is being set. • Can consider different points of views and compromise when needed. • Doesn't hold rigidly to a point of view and argue it to death, especially when the team needs to move forward to make a decision or get something done. • Firm in thoughts yet open to what others have to offer.

Shows Commitment • Cares about work, the team, and the team's work. • Shows up every day with this care and commitment up front. • Gives a good effort, and wants other team members to do the same. • Don't need to be rah-rah, cheerleader types. May even be soft-spoken, but not passive. Care about what the team is doing and contribute to its success—without needing a push. • Look beyond own work and care about the team's overall work.

Works as a Problem-Solver • Willing to deal with all kinds of problems in a solutions- oriented manner. • Get problems out in the open for discussion and then collaborates with others to find solutions and form action plans.

Treats Others in a Respectful and Supportive Manner • Shows courtesy and consideration—not just some of the time but consistently. • Shows understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done. • Doesn't place conditions on when they’ll provide assistance, when they'll choose to listen, and when they'll share information. • Has a sense of humor and knows how to have fun (but not at someone else's expense). • Deals with others in a professional manner.

Teamwork Leads to SUCCESS • Teamwork is about winning. Not in the sense of beating your opponent, but about seeing the whole team succeed and knowing you contributed to the success.

References • Importance of Teamwork in Organizations by Bob Kelly, • • • Demand Media http: //everydaylife. globalpost. com/importanceteamwork-organizations-12033. html Forbes Why and Where is Team Work Important? by Edmond Lau http: //www. forbes. com/sites/quora/2013/01/23/why-andwhere-is-teamwork-important/ Why Teamwork is Important http: //www. buzzle. com/articles/why -is-teamwork-important. html Importance of Teamwork at Work by Arnold Anderson, Demand Media http: //smallbusiness. chron. com/importance-teamwork-11196. html Why is Teamwork Important? http: //www. the-happymanager. com/articles/why-is-teamwork-important/ Ten Qualities of an Effective Team Player By Marty Brounstein http: //www. dummies. com/how-to/content/ten-qualities-of-aneffective-team-player. html