Improving Teamwork Effectiveness

One of the most important aspects of a quality work environment is to know how to establish quality teamwork. When an organization has learned to work together as a team everything functions smoother and more efficiently (Heathfield). It’s as if the organization were a large machine. Once every function of the machine is in sync with the rest of its mechanisms, it begins to run with smoothness and quality (Heathfield). Any team can accomplish the exact same type of success if it learns to work toward the same goal, and remain on the same page. There are two ways that I believe a team can improve its effectiveness. It must communicate clear expectations, and it must learn to identify existing problems through feedback (Heathfield) (Capozzi).

Communication

The first way to improve teamwork effectiveness is to communicate clear expectations. One of the first things each member of a team should know is their own individual purpose, as well as the collective purpose of the group (Heathfield). The “why” of what you are trying to accomplish is often the motor that keeps an organization going. Once a team understands the “why”, they are motivated to accomplish everything that is expected of them. It is up to each member of the group to communicate the “why of what they do, and to establish a specific goal together (Heathfield).

Problem Identification

The second method for improving effectiveness is “learn to identify problems through feedback” (Capozzi). Similar to the first point, I’m referring to communication. However, this time it needs to take place much deeper into the process. Once a team has accomplished a great deal of its desired goal, it is vital that the process be evaluated and feedback be given. The team can use this opportunity to identify problems and discover ways to work even more efficiently and effectively (Capozzi). Overall, effective teamwork is sure to come about, if the team learns how to communicate and identify problems and opportunities for improvement through feedback.

References

Capozzi, C. (n.d.). Five ways to improve teamwork in the workplace. Chron, Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/five-ways-improve-teamwork-workplace-13766.html

Heathfield, S. (n.d.). 12 tips for team building. About.com Human Resources, Retrieved from http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm