Once you become a part of the corporate world, you will be required to work with teams, and the importance of teamwork is paramount. Working in teams is an integral part of how various tasks are performed, especially now.
At present, most teams are diverse, many are dispersed, and all have become far more dynamic than they were before. Hence, you must have certain skills to carry out your work in a collaborative way. An individual can’t take care of all the tasks independently, and teamwork skills can help you manage the task list more effectively. Teamwork skills are developed over time, but there are five that build a strong foundation for effective teamwork and that you should work to develop to right away.
1. Good Communications Skills
Effective communication involves listening and speaking, and both are equally important. A team consists of diverse individuals who bring varied experiences and skills to the team. In the absence of effective communication, it is impossible to leverage the qualities of a team and benefit the organization. Communication is a two-way process, and good communication skills are required regardless of the role you fill on the team—team member or team leader.
When communication is successful, you will leave the conversation with more clarity on what is expected from you and others, and others will have a better sense of what to expect from you. This helps to establish clear direction and expectations and maintain transparency with various tasks and goals the team is working to achieve together.
Teams need to understand the expectations clearly and what needs to be accomplished within a given time frame. It is also essential to properly understand challenges and shortcomings, either within or outside of the team environment. Finally, effective communication helps to identify the right solutions in the short run as well as longer term.
In addition to the mechanics of task management and execution, teamwork also involves advising and coordinating with team members, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and providing guidance and oversight on activities. These softer team-management tasks need to be done without hurting team morale or damaging relationships, so choosing your words carefully is essential.
2. Conflict-Management Techniques
All teams consist of individuals with various skills, experiences, and opinions. When different people work together, there will be conflicts. Therefore, it is vital to manage and resolve these conflicts as early as possible. Successful conflict management requires an individual to be calm and act in the best interest of everyone. Frequent conflicts can lead to low team morale and can hamper team and individual productivity. At times, the conflicts may not be overt or entirely visible, but even these types of conflicts can damage the fabric of the team and hinder the progress of the business.
Conflict management requires open communication and negotiation with team members in the interest of creating a more peaceful and harmonious team environment. Therefore, it is crucial to identify what is actually causing the conflict; this will make it easier to come up with a mutually acceptable solution.
3. Listening Skills
Listening is crucial. When you listen to others, you develop clarity on the tasks and objectives that need to be fulfilled as well as get to know people better. This helps you understand what needs to be done to keep things on track, from both a task and a personal perspective. It’s also important to listen carefully to the opinions of others because it helps you avoid being perceived as rude or disrespectful.
Communication is a two-way process, but speaking is much easier than listening. Listening is a skill that doesn’t come naturally to most people but developing this ability will allow you to communicate with others much more effectively. Listening skills are necessary to solve problems, conflicts, and challenges. It’s important to listen first before saying anything. When you listen to understand, it helps you to become a better communicator because you’re seeking to gain an understanding of the other person’s perspective and really hearing what they’re saying before you craft a response.
4. Reliability
People are often required to handle sensitive or proprietary information at work, and reliability is of the utmost importance when it comes to teamwork. If you are reliable and responsible, people will look up to you and try to follow your lead. Reliability is a skill that assures others that you can be trusted with the most crucial tasks. People know that you will complete the tasks efficiently and finish everything within the required time frame. Proving to others that you are reliable is a big step toward becoming an asset to a team.
5. Respect
Treating people with respect is a requirement of healthy teams. The rule is simple: if you are respectful towards others, they will be respectful towards you. Showing respect doesn’t mean you have to agree with someone. People come from many backgrounds and hold many differing opinions. The key is to allow for opinions to be shared without allowing personal differences to get in the way of your relationship or prevent you from working together successfully.
In an organization, feedback can be either positive or negative, but it should always be delivered respectfully. Whatever the reason for the feedback, sharing it in a respectful manner ensures that people will be more receptive to what is being said. The feedback will be viewed as constructive and helpful rather than critical and punishing, which supports the relationship and the team bond. Knowing that feedback is coming from a place of caring and respect ensures that it will be received more positively and paves the way for smoother communication in the future.
Guest Author
Michael Clark
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