Better Information Retention

 

 Team Work?  No Thanks!

We all know that teamwork is a wonderful thing, but it can also be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. You might have to put in more of an effort than you're used to, or be forced to do things that you’ve never had the chance to do before. It's not always fun and games, but the rewards at the end—the most satisfying win for your team, praise from your boss—are worth it.

But if this sounds like too much work just think about how much more productive you'll feel when you complete tasks with greater speed and efficiency? You can even reward yourself with a snack break as often as you want (in moderation).

Why is teamwork so important?

In a nutshell, teamwork is the perfect medium that helps you work better with your teammates. It improves your communication, makes you learn from each other and makes it easier for you to share ideas with one another. There are many reasons why you should develop good working relationships with your team members. First of all, a happy team performs better. Secondly, it does not matter whether it is in the office or on a sports field, by working together and helping one another out, you will be more successful than if you go at it alone.

There are certain principles that will help make your team work easier and be more productive overall. They include:

Give 100 percent of your effort. Even if the team is not going to work out, at least you did your best. Don't hold back or spare yourself. Put up a good effort and be honest with your teammates about what you think, how you feel and what you need from them in order to do your best.

Know that not everyone will like each other. This is normal, but don't let this fact get in the way of completing tasks as a team. If someone really rubs you wrong then try to focus on what their strengths are and learn from them rather than dwelling on their weaknesses.

Be a good listener and communicator.There's nothing worse than being on a team with someone who refuses to listen to your thoughts or ideas, or is just not interested in the project and their role in it. Keep an open mind when it comes to new information, and understand that no one is perfect, including yourself.

Don’t blame others for mistakes or errors. If something goes wrong don't turn on each other; instead discuss the problem and find out the cause of the mistake, so you can prevent it from happening again.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and admit that you don't know something. Nothing is wrong with being humble and asking for help, but if you pretend to know something that you don't, it can really hurt your team from improving.

Be open and honest with one another. You don't want to be the team member who is always giving out negative energy or the one who is spreading gossip about how someone else does things.

Don’t take yourself too seriously; there’s nothing worse than a team member with a bad attitude—someone who is difficult or always complaining about every little thing that goes wrong.

Try to be respectful, even if you don't approve of someone's style or behavior. You never know when you might need their support or help on a project.

Admit when you are wrong and apologize. It is important to let others know that you are aware of your mistakes too, and take responsibility for them.

Work with your team based on each person’s strengths, not weaknesses. This means that if there’s something a teammate doesn’t want to do or they aren't good at doing it, find someone else in the group to do it instead. Or ask them if they would like some help and then encourage each other in completing the task together.

Experiment with new ideas, and recommend them if they work. Everyone is different, which means you will have to come up with new ideas to make your project run smoothly. Also, think of ways to improve existing projects or tasks; maybe one person could take over the entire project or task and make it that much better by adding their own spin.

Give advice when needed. You can offer the team guidance on how to do something in a better way, or how you think it should be done—but only when requested. If the team doesn't want your input then don't push for it; just leave them alone and do what you are good at doing best.

Try to understand what is going on in everyone else's head, and don’t think you understand them just because one of you has the same personality. This could lead to misunderstandings or tension among the team members. If a teammate is grouchy and difficult, don't take it personally if they are just having a bad day; give them some space to sort out their feelings. Don't take their attitude personally because it is probably not about you; be there for them and support them if they need it.

Learn from your mistakes, but don’t make the same mistakes over and over again. If you are working with a team that is willing to work together and fix mistakes and problems, then you will soon see a difference in your performance because with everyone on the same page, the team is more productive.

Give and take equally. A team that works well together usually has members who are willing to help each other out whenever possible. For instance, if one of your teammates asks for some of your time to discuss something important, or if they ask you to do something while they focus on another task, give them what they need or want. In return they should be willing to be there for you when it’s your turn. When you're done with a task, offer to help the team with the next one. Don't want to spend your whole day helping others? Ask if you can split the next project among your group members so that you all have some down time to enjoy and relax.

Persevere when things get tough or tough people appear on the team. You will see signs of problems when people start being inconsistent with their work, not completing tasks on time, and not communicating well. When this happens it might be time for a check in session, or a meeting where everyone expresses their concerns openly. If someone is not getting along with others then work out a plan to resolve any issues they are having.

Conclusion

Working as a team can be overwhelming and stressful, but the rewards for each member of a team are tremendous. You feel better about yourself when you are a part of something that is bigger than yourself. You can also be more productive if you work well together as a team, thus giving you more time to do what you enjoy doing most--being creative and productive with your work.

If you successfully complete these suggestions, then working as a team will be easier for all and a great experience for all. Good luck!

About the Author: Jessica Shapiro is the founder of 37th Avenue Consulting, an online business consultation company that provides free information on several topics including hiring employees and outsourcing work.