Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that teamwork is one of the cornerstones of organizational success. But can teamwork be taught? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Teamwork and Why It Matters
The term teamwork refers to the ability of a team to work in coordination toward a common goal, be it a business target, a product deadline, or anything in between.
Managers have been aware of the importance of teamwork since at least the 1970s. Since then, many team effectiveness models have been proposed. Most of them agree that a handful of factors are crucial when it comes to building successful teams:
- Compelling direction
- Defined structure
- Supportive context
- Common mindset
Years of research have provided us with solid insights on how teamwork works as well as ideas on how to foster a strong teamwork culture. But can teamwork be taught?
Teaching Teamwork
Some people have a natural ability to work in teams, while others find it more challenging.
Regardless of which category you belong to, the good news is that psychologists believe that teamwork skills can be taught.
Some of the keys to teaching teamwork skills include:
- Introduce cooperative tasks. Focusing on a common goal is one of the basic conditions for effective teamwork.
- Promote useful conflict. Conflict is not absent from effective teams. However, good teams know how to manage conflict in a way that leads to growth.
- Promote positive interactions. While conflict is necessary, it isn’t the prevalent ingredient of the teamwork “recipe.” The ideal proportion between positive interactions and conflict is about 3.5:1.
- Provide a sense of purpose. People deliver better results when they feel that they are working on something that matters.
More Tips and Ideas
At the ONE Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce, we are always looking for ideas that help foster the growth of your business. Here are some previous posts to help you do just that:
- Considering seasonal hiring for Christmas? Keep these tips in mind
- 3 Simple ways to protect yourself against identity theft
- Common grammar mistakes to avoid in your business emails
- The key to becoming a better leader
Interested in learning more about the ONE Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce? Contact us today by email (info@oneinlandempire.com), telephone (951-280-3902), or social media. We look forward to hearing from you!