Great Teamwork

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward the team's objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." - Andrew Carnegie

Amidst the COVID 19 pandemic we have been forced to work differently. Teamwork has always been an important part of how we work, but there is some irony in the fact that teamwork is more important now than ever, with everyone working so far apart from each other. More people are working from home, or from remote locations to remain in a safe environment.

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson

A team’s greatest strength and effectiveness lie in its team members. Thus, great teamwork is necessary for teams in order to accomplish the overall objectives and goals of an organization. Businesses thrive on great teamwork. Great teamwork motivates unity within the workplace. Even if we are working together via computer on an online meeting collaboration, teamwork promotes an atmosphere that fosters friendship, togetherness and loyalty. We are able to become more familiar with each other, and each individuals personalities. We want our team to be successful. We want the best for everyone on our team. These relationships motivate each other to work harder, cooperate and be supportive of each other.

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” - Henry Ford

Individuals possess diverse talents, weaknesses, communication skills, strengths, and habits. Great teamwork is critical to focus on each other's strengths in order to maximize each individuals talents, while blending them together to be able to achieve the overall goals and objectives. With this in mind, one can effectively delegate responsibility among the team members. It not only helps to lessen the workload but also contributes in developing accountability in team members. This prepares every member of a team to be clear about what is expected out of them which propels them to perform with utmost dedication and responsibility for their work. When teamwork is working at its peak, the whole team is motivated and working toward the same goal in harmony. Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward the team's objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

"The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison." - James Cash Penny

Great teamwork has the ability to offer differing perspectives and feedback. Team effort increases output by having quick feedback and multiple sets of skills come into play to support your work. Every individual brings with them their own diversity of thought, creativity, perspectives, opportunities, and problem solving approaches. These differing opinions and experiences strengthens accountability and can help make effective decisions faster than when done alone. Effective teams also allow the initiative to innovate and brainstorm collectively, which in turn increases their success to problem solve, creating a competitive edge to accomplish goals and objectives and arrive at solutions more effectively.  You can go through the stages of planning, designing, and execution much more efficiently when a team is functioning as a cohesive unit.

"Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Great teamwork leads to improved efficiency and productivity. It produces a synergistic effect that amplifies the output and efficacy as opposed to team members working individually. This is because it allows the workload to be shared, reducing the pressure on individuals, and ensure tasks are completed within a set time frame. It also allows goals to be more attainable, enhances the optimization of performance, improves job satisfaction and increases work pace. When we coordinate our efforts with the efforts of others we move toward achieving our goals.  Teamwork divides the tasks and doubles the success of any project. Alone, a project may seem overwhelming. With teamwork, tasks become simple.  Ultimately, when a group of individuals works together, compared to one person working alone, they promote a more efficient work output and are able to complete tasks faster due to many minds intertwined on the same goals and objectives of the business. By working together, good work becomes great. Ordinary becomes extraordinary. Average becomes awesome!

“Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” - Mattie Stepanek

Great teamwork fosters individual growth, as it produces great learning opportunities. Being part of a team that comprises competent individuals can help you learn many new skills by sharing information with each other. Working in a team enables us to learn from one another’s mistakes. You are able to avoid future errors, gain insight from differing perspectives, and learn new concepts from more experienced colleagues. In addition, individuals can expand their skill sets, discover fresh ideas from newer colleagues and therefore ascertain more effective approaches and solutions towards the tasks at hand. This active engagement generates the future articulation, encouragement and innovative capacity to problem solve and generate ideas more effectively and efficiently. What’s even more amazing about strong teamwork is that you might become more aware of what your personal strengths are because of your teammates. You also become a better listener, which will help you grasp as much information as possible and use it to your advantage in the future.

"No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you are playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team." - Reid Hoffman

When team members are aware of their own responsibilities and roles, as well as the significance of their output being relied upon by the rest of their team, team members will be driven to share the same vision, values, and goals. The result creates a workplace environment based on fellowship, trust, support, respect, and cooperation. When all the team members work collectively, after the task is finished, they feel a greater sense of accomplishment. Examples are all around us if we are aware and look for them daily. 

"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality." - Joe Paterno

So, remember that when you are collaborating with others around you. You are more likely to get better results by involving others and working together. None of us can accomplish alone, what all of us can accomplish together. As stated in my favorite acronym, T.E.A.M. = Together Each Achieves More. There is immense power when a group of individuals collaborate together to work toward a common goal. Practice great teamwork today!

Make today great!

Curtis

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team, a company work, a society work a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi