5 teamwork tips for managers
The saying goes, “teamwork makes the dream work,” and with good reason. By helping to mold a solid professional bond between your employees, they can effectively work together toward a common vision. It gives them the chance to understand everyone’s weaknesses and combat them with strengths to accomplish their goals. And while you’re their manager, you’re still a part of the team – guiding the ship, if you will, captain.
That said, shaping up your communication skills and assisting your staff members when necessary can foster teamwork that leads to success. Here are a few tips:
1. Set clear goals
As projects surface, be sure to structure how the team will move forward. Creating a solid timeline with clear goals enables your team to obtain them, according to The Balance. With this direction, staff members can work together to meet the needs of the outlined expectations.
2. Make it easy for your staff members to get acquainted
Setting your staff members up for success can help foster teamwork. Make it simple for them to get acquainted and work together on a project by encouraging them to utilize multiple channels of communication, as suggested by Business News Daily. Whenever possible, direct, face-to-face communication is key – this ensures nothing gets lost in translation. They can make use of email, phone conversation and text messaging as well to ensure successful collaboration.
Make it easy for your staff members to collaborate.3. Encourage constant collaboration
A healthy work environment makes all the difference. Set your staff members up for success by presenting them with an open environment that screams constant collaboration. This type of working environment can encourage your team to communicate and work together constantly.
4. Point out team member strengths
There’s a reason your staff members were hired. In addition to professional experience for the position, it’s likely an individual strength that set them apart from the other candidates played a role as well. Entrepreneur recommends playing to the strengths that each team member brings to the table. Highlight what each individual does best and assign them a role based on this. That way, each person will bring a different asset to the project that keeps the workflow moving successfully and seamlessly.
“Encourage your staff members to get acquainted outside of the office.”
5. Take this outside…of the office
Even with the perfect working environment in the office, your staff members will need a break from the usual hustle and bustle. Encourage them to step outside of the office for a team lunch to discuss the project elsewhere.
“A lunch outing or an afternoon happy hour is a great way to get together and talk about work without infringing on employees’ personal time,” wrote Dave Mattson, a guest writer for Entrepreneur.
This is a great way to encourage team bonding, which will not only strengthen friendships but can also work to their professional advantage when they have to get back to business.
Ensure respectful communication
As the manager, it’s your job to oversee your staff members and make sure they’re headed down the right path to success. That said, it can be easy to express thoughts and opinions when the creative juices are flowing, but you need to make sure it’s respectful conversation. It’s easy for people to get carried away when so many thoughts and ideas are getting thrown around, so just remember to step in if anything gets out of hand. This can help your staff members stay on task and repair any teamwork road bumps that may have surfaced.