Strategies for Building a Stronger, More Productive Team

No matter what business you’re in, you’re not in it alone – you are always part of a team. The stronger and more cohesive the team, the more productive you will be.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~ Helen Keller

You could be the CEO of a national organisation, leading an ecosystem of teams with multiple layers of leadership.? At the opposite end of the scale, you might be a sole trader, working predominantly by yourself, but you still need suppliers, consultants, advisors, services …. they all make up your team.

Whichever end of the scale you’re at, or quite likely, somewhere in between, it is cohesive teamwork that builds a better business. When you work collaboratively as a team, you unlock a wealth of positivity, which includes:

• Better problem-solving
• More innovation and creativity
• A happier working environment
• Personal growth
• Boosted productivity

I’m sure it will come as no surprise that building a cohesive and efficient team (or teams) is crucial for any organisation aiming to effectively achieve its goals. A team's strength is not just about the individual capabilities of its members, but what counts, is how well they collaborate and work together towards common objectives.

So, let’s look at few simple strategies you can use to support the growth of a stronger and more productive team.?

• Create Clear and Concise Team Goals and Responsibilities

The first step for creating a productive team is to ensure every team member understands the goals and values of the team.? Creating a mission and vision, while defining clear values, builds a culture where all team members understand what they are working to achieve.

It’s important that team members are integrated into the team, and are happy and productive in their work environment. To do that, leaders must clearly establish their roles and responsibilities. If team members are not sure of their responsibilities, they may start to lose confidence, and doubt what they are working to achieve.

So, to set the foundation for effective teamwork, ensure everyone is clear on their role, as well as the desired outcome, and this will help to establish a cohesive and productive team.

• Effective Communication – the backbone of any team

We all know that good communication skills are essential to establish trust, build relationships, and ensure that everyone in the team is working towards the same goal. Establish open communication by creating a safe environment where everyone knows they can speak freely and contribute their ideas. Team members should feel comfortable expressing their opinions, without fear of judgement.

Hold regular team meetings and brainstorming sessions, encouraging everyone to participate. Leaders should ensure no-one dominates the conversation and that everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas. Discuss ‘active listening’ with the team, so that everyone feels they are being heard and valued.?

On a more productive level, for effective communication within the project parameters and progress, use team tools, similar to Slack and Trello, so everyone can clearly communicate and share the project status, including their contributions and efforts.

• Establishing Collaboration and Trust

Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that trust will take time to develop.? Team members must build relationships with each other to ensure a cohesive and productive team.? Everything discussed in the previous two points are critical steps in the ‘trust’ process.? That is, understanding roles and responsibilities, along with open and transparent communication, will have a positive impact on building trust within the team. Any team will, of course, have a variety of personalities working together. It is your task, as a leader, to ensure any issues within the team are discussed openly and without judgement.? Team building exercises and encouraging team members to get to know each other better, will make a huge difference in building a collaborative team. Actively promote collaboration among team members. Encourage them to leverage each other's strengths, share knowledge, and work together towards solutions.

Establishing trust between employees and management is another crucial element of creating a successful team. Demonstrate a commitment to the team's success through your actions and decisions. Be accessible, approachable, and responsive to team needs.? Ensuring team members are informed of developments in a timely way will stop ‘chinese whispers’ and create a level of integrity between the team and its leaders.? Transparent communication enhances feelings of value and respect within the team. Acknowledge and appreciate team achievements. Celebrate milestones to boost morale and motivation. Recognise individual contributions within the team context and emphasise the importance of teamwork in achieving success.

• Leveraging Diverse Skills Within the Team

For any team to be effective and productive, it will almost certainly be made up of a diverse range of team members with different skills. Recognise and leverage the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of team members. As a leader, it is for you to discern the unique abilities each member can bring to the team, and to not only acknowledge those skills, but encourage them to enhance those skills through training and mentorship.?

Equip your team with the necessary resources, tools, and training to perform their roles effectively. By investing in personal and professional development, you are building the skills and confidence of your team, while also increasing trust and collaboration amongst team members, as everyone grows confidence in each other’s abilities.

• Dealing with Conflict and Issues

As a leader of a productive and diverse team, you will almost certainly experience conflict at some point.? Having a clear conflict resolution strategy and encouraging inclusivity, will make all the difference in whether the issue is dealt with quickly and efficiently, or whether it escalates out of control. It’s important for continued productivity that the team remains collaborative. Encouraging open feedback, again without judgement, and being able to work together towards a satisfactory solution, will be easier if you deal with conflict in a standard way.?

As previously mentioned, encouraging regular feedback with open and transparent communication is essential for a collaborative team, but even more so for conflict resolution.? Any team will regularly be faced with changing circumstances, so it’s worth acknowledging that a variety of issues will occur, but by developing the right culture and foundation from the start, you can ensure the team remains agile and productive.

As you can see, there some simple strategies you can adopt to encourage a more trusting and collaborative team. By creating clear team goals and developing open communication, you can create a stronger and more productive team.

If you’d like to know more about building productive teams, discover how a business growth community can support you to build a better business through the power of connection. We welcome you to attend any of our business growth events in Perth or the Gold Coast, or reach out to me and discover how to experience the District32 difference.? Contact me by emailing [email protected]