Ways to Enhance Teamwork

Ways to Enhance Teamwork

Every organization has numerous sections that support each other to ensure a smooth efficient and proud team. Each of these sections has a leadership team responsible for developing a team atmosphere.

Unfortunately at times there are people in leadership positions that fail to train their section as a team, their interest being for personal gains vice teamwork. I have worked with a few people like that and they are extremely detrimental to the success and pride of the people entrusted to them.

The senior leader or manager has to be engaged and involved in the development of every section in their organization ensuring everyone is receiving proper training concerning teamwork. This doesn’t require micro management; it requires knowing your team and observing their actions.

One tool I used with great success was to have all my leadership team meet once weekly and share idea’s and information. We discussed our competition and formulated a plan to keep our team on top. I had seven leaders sharing information with each other and building a teamwork atmosphere. I emphasized to them I expected each of their sections to work together just like the leaders were doing.

We weekly had 5 minute meetings advising everyone of new idea’s, giving credit to individuals that presented the idea. I am not talking about the leadership team but the team members. It is a wonderful thing seeing an entire team show their appreciation to another team member.

One other tool I used extensively to enhance teamwork was organized athletics to include aerobics, softball, basketball, touch football and fishing. The teams were integrated from each section not allowing an entire team from their personal section. I imagine by now you are thinking when do I have time to do all this. Leading isn’t easy; it requires a lot of innovation and brain storming. We held these events on Sunday afternoons, it wasn’t a required event since they were not being paid but the turn outs were outstanding and grew larger weekly. The events were a major topic of discussion all during the week which stirred up a lot of interest for people that had missed the event.

Enhancing teamwork requires the leadership team to be innovative and think of new idea’s to keep their team motivated. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just interesting and fun. It’s a great feeling being on a winning team as no one wants to be a loser.