It’s funny isn’t it? How, sometimes, you can be part of a team yet feel totally isolated and left out. The problem with being in any kind of team is that, usually, you’ll nearly always have different ideas to someone else and have to compromise or come up with solutions to the disagreements. It happens in any kind of team; at work, at home (yes families are teams too!) and in sport. Here are my top five ways to bring teams together to create a strong and positive workforce.
A common goal
As a team you all need to have a common goal. What is your team’s purpose? What do you want to achieve? By answering these questions you’ll all have a clear idea of where you want, or need, your team to be. It’s always good to make these goals ‘SMART’ (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) so that everyone in the team knows where you are at any given point. If you don’t have a common goal, then you’re more likely to fail as a team!
Set roles within the team
Delegating is a great way to get more done within the team. Don’t all try and do the same thing at the same time. Plan ahead, have a timetable, give roles to everyone. This way nobody feels left out and feels like they haven’t contributed to the team and others can’t knock you. Decide between you where the abilities lie within the team and use them to your advantage (particularly helpful in sport, even if you don’t like the position you’re given, learn to love it!). Make sure you communicate effectively, ask for help if you need it, or offer help if you’re up to date with your own stuff! This is really helpful in families – the chores won’t do themselves, right?
Effective communication
It’s all good and well thinking you’re communicating within your team but you really need to be sure you’re doing it effectively. Saying something in a passing comment might not sink in for the other person, and big hints rarely work. Do what you need to do to make sure you, and everyone in your team, is heard. Have regular meetings, have a group chat on Whatsapp, leave sticky notes, have a tick chart, just something so you’re all on the same page. This way nobody misses anything crucial. Your communication should be so good that if you’re off sick, someone should know roughly where you are and what you’ve been working on so that it can be picked up and delegated until your return.
Be uniform
I think for a team to work well, some kind of uniform is essential. Not only does it bring a sense of family, but equality too. Nobody is dressed better than the other, and it brings an air of professionalism to your team. It shows you want to work together and that you’re all on the same page. There are lots of companies that can offer some form of personalised clothing, even if it’s just t-shirts! Agree on something that shows you’re part of a working family. It doesn’t have to be a full on proper uniform, and these personalised t-shirts from Firelabel are pretty good and are super affordable too so you don’t have to spend a lot to get the look right either.
Take time out
It may seem like you spend all day together working, or every night training for a big game, but it’s so important to take time away from your jobs and just spend time together. Go bowling, go dancing, learn a new skill, just do something together that isn’t work. You might find that someone else has a cracking quality that you could use in your team, or that someone knows someone else. Hell you’ll probably have a great time, you’ve just got to remember to let your hair down and not talk about work!
Do you have any tips for making a team work? Do you work in a team and know the secret to working together effectively?