This is the second in a two-part series on teamwork. In my last blog, ‘Leadership through Teamwork – It Starts at the Top,’ I emphasized the benefits of teamwork and the responsibility of leadership to set the overall direction and goals of the team. It takes good leadership to make it work. In addition, leaders have to be open to adopting team management concepts rather than managing as the “strict” boss of a typical hierarchical team. In fact, many teams are comprised of members from different departments; non-hierarchical.
Zagreb Global Group consultants have demonstrated that accomplishing objectives through teamwork empowers team members to collectively work together. Individual members incorporate their work experiences and expertise to produce results as a member of the team.
Employing teamwork concepts and principles do work and is highly recommended by Zagreb Global Group. Benefits of doing so in the business environment include:
- Clearly defined goals and objectives established by leadership or by the collective team, and agreed to by all team members.
- Establish measures for success in terms of achieving results to objectives.
- Improvement in business processes and procedures.
- Identification of team strengths and areas for improvement. Individual team members also benefit as it relates to their personal performance and contributions to achieving team objectives.
- Improved organizational productivity.
- A natural improvement in communications.
- Morale booster for the team having produced results based on their collaboration.
Perhaps the most to benefit are team leaders whose leadership skills are sharpened in the process. Varying degrees of adjustments in leadership style may be necessary, particularly for leaders of the team. It is important, as well as a challenge for leadership to maintain the balance of being in-charge, leading the team, and being willing to function, as a leader, of an empowered team.
Zagreb Global Group advises clients on what it takes to successfully building winning teams. Implementing our recommendations led to the formation of teams, goals and objectives were met, and even exceeded expectations in many cases. The teams were empowered by management and achieved excellent results through process improvements that were identified and implemented through teamwork.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to what it takes to build a winning team. Marijan Pavisic, Zagreb Global Group says “the building blocks needed to foster teamwork differ for each organization in accordance with what they are attempting to accomplish. However, there are Attributes of a Winning Team, developed by Zagreb Global Group for clients to employ when building their teams. Some of the attributes are:
- Leadership Paradigm: adopting team management skills; different from managing as a strict boss. Requires leadership skills fostering trust through honesty and transparency. The leader sets direction for the team, and secures team commitment to the mission. The leader is the chief motivator; encourages collaboration and communication, mentors team members, keeps the team on track, etc. The focus is on achieving results; team results.
- Clearly Defined Goals and Objectives: this point cannot be overstated and requires buy-in by the total team. Team participation in goal setting can be effective in securing total buy-in.
- Team Selection: Recruit potential members with the requisite background and skill sets necessary to perform and produce results. Learn as much as possible about the person to determine whether they will be an asset to the team. It is important to determine, if possible, if they have the ability to work with others.
- Full Commitment: need to secure commitment from each team member of their participation in the form of a contract.
- Team Development: understand that teams go through stages/periods of development. Recognize that this exists and address accordingly.
- Trust: an important factor that must be addressed up front. Zagreb Global Group facilitates training exercises specifically designed to build trust among members of the team.
- Recognition: work as a team, overcome obstacles as a team, address pitfalls as a team, and celebrate success as a team. There is no ‘I’ the word team.
Team leadership has the challenge of ‘steering the ship in the right direction.’ “A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way” – Swahili Proverb. The team leaders’ job is to keep members working together, maintain cohesion, keep communications channels open, and a quality that merits further discussion; promote listening. The ability to listen is a very important skill. Effective listening should be modeled by the leader and practiced by every member of the team. In the words of Steven Covey, we should “seek first to understand; then be understood.” Effective listening in teamwork requires being open to hearing the ideas of others without judging the merits of their input. This can be a challenge for some, however it is the responsibility of the leader to create and maintain an environment of an open exchange of ideas, according to Marijan Pavisic of Zagreb Global Group.
Teamwork is an organic process that requires leadership, clear communication and facilitation, promoting collaboration, building trust, and achieving results. These are the major points of what it takes to build a winning team.
Zagreb Global Group conducts Employee and Management Workshops, one of many HR Consulting Services we provide. We provide consultation and training on establishing teams, conduct team building exercises, etc. An increasing number of companies have adopted the teamwork approach and are using business teams to respond quickly to ongoing change in a dynamic, competitive and intense global competitive marketplace. We can assist you in accomplishing Leadership through Teamwork by building a Winning Team.
As indicated in my previous blog, Henry Ford had it right when he said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
About
Zagreb Global Group, LLC, (ZGG), a human resources consulting and staffing company located in Hackensack, N.J. Zagreb Global Group markets a full range of HR consulting and staffing services to companies ranging in size and scope from start-ups to fortune 500. We serve the needs of customers in multiple industries in a dynamically changing environment.
MISSION STATEMENT
Zagreb Global Group’s mission is to provide HR consulting and staffing services to companies ranging in size and scope from start-ups to fortune 500, across multiple industries. We are committed to providing high quality services through HR solutions designed to help our clients achieve their strategic objectives and business goals in a dynamic business and economic environment.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES PLEASE VISIT OUR PAGE
Marijan Pavisic Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.