Top 5 Tips for Effective Teamwork

Any person is able to work in a team, but effective teamwork is the true key to productivity. A strong team will be greater than the sum of its parts. Teamwork is important in any workplace, this becomes clear when comparing a dysfunctional team to a team which works well together. The results indicate that there are several factors that influence the effectiveness of any team. What are these factors? Read the tips below to find out.

5 Tips for effective teamwork

1. Appoint a strong leader

A team has no direction without an elected leader. It is vital that this person is efficient and switched on when it comes to delegating tasks to the appropriate team members.

Leaders of effective teams will also prioritise team goals over individual goals, ensuring the whole team is committed to getting the job done. Finally, they must be capable of showing direction and increasing the morale of the team.

2. Clarify all responsibilities

From the moment the team is formed, particular attention must be paid to assigning direct responsibilities to each team member. If clear parameters are set from the beginning, there will be no overlaps of authority.

This is an important step to make before delving into the project so that everyone is clear and on the same page. If everyone is clear on what they are responsible for producing, it helps prevent situations such as staff overlapping on tasks and the less desirable tasks being avoided. Effective teamwork can be derailed as much by having too many people responsible for the same thing as it can be by having tasks that no one is responsible for.

3. Set common goals

Each team will be comprised of people with diverse backgrounds and skillsets. It is therefore important to set common goals in which the team is working towards so that the focus always remains on the finished product.

Each team member must understand that personal goals must be set aside and team goals must remain a focus throughout the project. As the well-known saying goes, ‘There is no I in team’. If conflicts arise, refer back to these original goals and make decisions with a primary focus on them.

4. Foster open communication

Encouraging team members to be forthcoming with their ideas and concerns is very important for the success of the team.

When team members feel that they can freely contribute ideas, there is more scope for creativity and innovation. It is also important to establish two-way communication of information between both the members within the team, as well as between team members and their manager. This ensures that everyone is always appropriately informed and no topics of conversation are avoided.

Team members should also feel comfortable to address concerns and issues with the team. When different points of view exist, being able to resolve conflict positively is enormously productive, and a hallmark of effective teams.

5. Be willing to help others

In a team project, although you are assigned personal tasks you must remember that your overall goal is to contribute to completing the project. This, therefore, means that if you have finished your workload, you must be willing to help out where needed. This may mean contributing to tasks that are perhaps below your level or outside your usual responsibilities, but the overall goal must be kept in mind.

Lead your team with confidence

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What do you think?

Do you have any other tips for effective teamwork that you would like to suggest? I welcome your thoughts or questions in our comment box below.

This article was written by Laura Hutton on behalf of the Australian Institute of Business. All opinions are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AIB. The following sources have been used to prepare this article: Shine Career Advice.