Learn more about Chamber Circles for Women and Entrepreneurs
|
||
In business, teamwork is more crucial than ever. When employees work together effectively, they not only enhance productivity but also foster innovation and create a positive work atmosphere.
For business leaders, inspiring employees to function as a cohesive unit requires a blend of vision, communication, interpersonal skills, and more importantly, the ability to identify when work is needed to ensure this cohesion is maintained.
“When you begin to notice more people are spending time talking about each other, rather than to each other, it’s a sign there is trouble on the team,” says leadership expert Julie Dupont of Reimagine Leadership, adding not all work colleagues are going to get along, despite the fact it creates a more positive working environment. “Ideally, they still need to respect each other and work together productively.”
She says a lack of trust plays a key part of creating an inefficient work situation as employees begin to direct more time and energy at protecting themselves, rather than focusing on doing their best work.
“They may start to spend all their time thinking ‘How am I going to say this in the meeting?’, rather than ‘How am I going to move this meeting forward?’,” says Julie. “When people aren’t on high impact teams or interested in their team’s success so much as they are protecting themselves, then you’re not getting the same level performance. That’s very inefficient and productivity and profitability suffers.”
Transparent communication
Inspiring employees to work as a team is in ongoing process that requires dedication, empathy, and strategic planning, especially at the beginning.
“If you’re lucky enough to build your team, you want to hire for those emotional intelligence skills right off the bat,” recommends Julie. “So often, when we’re looking at resumes, we look at all those technical skills and abilities and past experiences, but we’re not thinking about ‘Do they have the social skills to fit well on this team? Are they a pleasure to be around?’.”
Effective teamwork hinges on open and transparent communication and leaders should encourage a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, feedback, and concerns. Regular team meetings, open-door policies, and collaborative tools can facilitate better communication. Also, listening actively and valuing each member’s input not only improves decision-making but also builds trust and mutual respect among team members.
Julie encourages leaders to ensure their employees learn to ‘fight fair’ by giving them the skills they need to engage with each other proactively and productively.
“This can prevent the blowouts and the spread of underground toxins because you’re dealing with things and teaching them to deal with things right away, instead of noticing something that seems ‘off’ and ignoring it.”
Ongoing training important
Leadership is not just about giving orders; it’s about setting an example. When leaders demonstrate the values and behaviours they expect from their team, they build credibility and respect.
For instance, showing a collaborative spirit, being open to feedback, and displaying a strong work ethic can inspire employees to mirror these traits. Authenticity and consistency in actions are vital - employees are more likely to follow a leader who walks the talk.
This may require ongoing training for leaders, says Julie, noting there are many resources available to assist them in developing their leadership skills and that asking for feedback – either anonymously or via a third-party interview - is a great way to ensure they are on the right path.
“How are you perceived? How do people see you as a leader? What are those skills strengths you have that you should really leverage?” she says. “There are different ways to get the feedback safely and that’s going to be important.”
Key strategies to build an effective team:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Brian Rodnick 218 November 1, 2024 |
Greg Durocher 41 July 28, 2023 |
Canadian Chamber of Commerce 24 January 29, 2021 |
Cambridge Chamber 2 March 27, 2020 |