Making Teamwork, Work
From school through tertiary studies and into the workplace, being part of a team is inevitable. Teams provide the opportunity to learn from others, have fun, gain support and collaborate, but teams can also cause conflict, friction and be difficult to be part of.
Managing, and being part of, a team would be easy if everyone within the team performed the tasks expected of them without fault, right? But when does this ever occur, and which fairy tale are we referring to? We all know teamwork can be difficult for a number of reasons and managing teams can be difficult at times too! But teamwork is not going away (nor would we want it to!).
There are better things to be doing with our time than constantly hiring and firing employees in an attempt find the perfect puzzle pieces. Hint: the don’t exist.
It is about working with who and what you have to make your best team. Whether the team is small or large, it will no doubt encompass individuals from diverse backgrounds, with equally diverse skillsets. The key is to identify these skillsets and maximise their use within your workplace. I am not talking about reading an individual’s CV and taking note of what they have listed as their skills for the role you have hired them for, I am referring to really getting to know your team: have conversations and ask questions; pay attention to the work they are producing and where they shine the most; and host a team day and watch what strengths are evident outside of the workplace. There are endless ways to discover skills that perhaps even your team member is not aware they have.
Once you know what you are truly working with, you can start utilising your team members to their full potential within the organisation. Not all businesses are the same, but what we do know is business needs evolve, Position Descriptions are (meant to be) amended to reflect changed needs and sometimes your team members might need that little bit of extra attention or guidance to get improved results. The ultimate goal for organisations should be to create a loyal, efficient team that can grow and adapt together. But how?
Here are some simple actions that can help you maximise the potential in the Team you already have:
Identify the needs of this business and remember that these are always evolving, even if your team members are staying the same.
Identify the skillsets within the team, even the less prevalent ones or the ones you do not see as overly relevant because they may become relevant at any time.
Matching the skills to the business needs, roles and tasks – remain flexible here because, again, business and individuals are always evolving.
Look at what you can do better for your team. Instead of seeing issues within the team as problems, see them as training, development or general opportunities for positive change.
If all else fails – ask for help!
