You may have seen this a million times before, but nothing I can come up with about teamwork will ever say it better –
“TEAM stands for
T – Together
E – Everyone
A – Achieves
M – More”
~Chambless
In the university, we had to work on a group project in the last year. While I used to love documenting and recording our results, my friends hated it!
One of them used to live and breathe electronic circuits while the other was proficient in research and interviewing subject experts.
The three of us had different interests, but when it came to working together, we brought in our strengths completed our project in time with excellent results. Not only that, we were announced one of the best teams that our class had that year!
That was my first experience with teamwork. It was also a lesson that effective teamwork happens when all team members keep aside their individual aspirations and work together as a single unit towards a common goal.
Needless to say, organizations today look for an individual’s teamwork skills and ability to work well with others while recruiting new employees. And that’s exactly the reason schools and colleges are giving more importance to team activities and exercises to help their students succeed when they enter the big, bad world.
Why Teamwork Matters: 4 Reasons
1. Motivation
You have a greater number of people working together in close proximity on the same goal.
The motivation factor is going to be high especially when the team members understand each other, have a sense of healthy competition, are willing to help the others along and are big-hearted enough to take pride in each other’s successes. After all, what’s the fun in celebrating if you are going to do it alone?
Regular team-bonding exercises and outings will also lead to strong friendships and loyalty. A strong sense of loyalty towards the team works as an additional motivational factor for the team members.
No one would want to let his team member down by not putting forward their best foot forward. If you know that there are people depending on you and you are accountable to them, you would not lag behind in completing your work on time.
2. Accelerated Learning
People working in teams tend to learn more by their interactions with each other. Brainstorming sessions can help you view the same problem from different perspectives and arrive at the best possible solution.
If you were working alone, it is quite possible that you would have not thought about the different possible ways through which you could solve the problem.
When you have a number of people specialized in different areas working together, it is easy to divide the tasks according the strengths and interests of each person and at the same time, keep everyone happy.
If you are able to work in an area which is in alignment with your likes and interests, you will be able to put in your hundred percent into the job.
3. Improved Efficiency
If you have a team carrying out your project, you can always rest easy that there would be someone else to pick up the slack if any individual falls sick or is absent. Well-defined roles ensures that the work is completed on time and by the person who is the most suitable to do it.
This in turn, translates into improved efficiency and the work gets completed earlier than if only one person was working on the project.
Organizations can also save time and money if they have an efficient team to carry out their projects. Have you observed how easy it is to wind up your housework duties when your significant other pitches in and you both work in tandem?
If you were working alone, wouldn’t the same task have taken you double the amount of time? The same principle applies to an organizational workplace too!
4. Better Interpersonal Skills
Working in a team moulds you into a confident and social individual who is comfortable in his own skin. You learn to get along better with other people and get rid of your shyness and inhibitions.
You can deal with their faults and strengths without going overboard and accept criticism gracefully without taking it personally.
You share your views and opinions openly without fear of ridicule and criticism. A person who is always used to working alone may find it difficult to open up or deal with social situations.
Frequent team activities and exercises on the other hand, will make you more sociable and out-going.
Which team do you think is more successful: A team of record-breaking athletes with individual goals Or a competent team of professional athletes who understand the importance of good teamwork and have common goals?
Let us know in the comments below!
Image by Clearly Ambiguous.
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