TEAMWORK
Teamwork involves different people and different groups across your business working together to maximize their efficiency and reach a common goal. There are many ways of organizing teams – some teams are organized around a particular product that is being developed, while others are organized around a process, such as manufacturing or research. In addition to providing team members with experience, benefits of teamwork include increased efficiency, financial savings, innovation and morale.
Many companies nowadays emphasize the importance of talent. They are driving on the idea that a few top employees are responsible for most of the overall success. However, most recent productivity studies have shown that even those shining superstars need the help of a strong team in order to succeed. Therefore, the importance of teamwork is emphasized more and more, with companies spending millions on team building strategies
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Teamwork fosters creativity and innovation, blends complementary strengths, improves morale and provides greater flexibility in the workplace.
Improves Morale By Promoting a Sense of Ownership - Teamwork allows employees to take greater responsibility for decision making and also allows team members to control more of the work process. This can lead to improved morale as employees gain more authority and ownership over the projects they are working on. The extra responsibility can lead to a more rewarding work environment and lower turnover. Working on a team also gives employees a greater sense of belonging and of recognition, which helps them take more pride in their work, and their company.
Builds Trust and Enhances Relationships- In workplaces where teamwork isn't consistent, establishing groups helps build stronger relationships between employees and lets individuals learn to work through a disagreement. Establishing teams, even when they aren't necessary, creates an environment where workers continue to take pride in independent accomplishments while also celebrating the contributions of coworkers.
When a dispute arises, the team must settle the issue and resolve conflicting ideas instead of a manager interceding. This type of give and take often spills over into day-to-day operations and communications.
Greater Flexibility for the Organization- Teamwork can help companies to be more flexible. By bringing employees from different parts of a project together into one team, problems or bottlenecks can sometimes be ironed out more easily. For example, car manufacturers might sometimes use this method when designing automobiles. Instead of each new car design going through separate areas, such as design, engineering and parts supply, the car manufacturer will organize one team that includes employees from all those areas to design each car. As problems arise in one area, the entire team can deal with them and the work can proceed much faster.
Fosters Creativity and Innovation -
Some companies use teams and teamwork to create a work environment which excels at creativity. These companies sometimes base their corporate structure almost entirely around teamwork, where staff are hired into general work areas and then chose to work on projects that best match their skills and interests. Leaders are appointed, and there is no chain of command or leadership hierarchy.
Using teams to full effect means that employees are free to start new teams as new ideas come to them. This is called a flat lattice teamwork-based corporate structure, and is used by companies wishing to be leaders in innovation.