Given the growing popularity of remote work, where workers don't see or interact with each other, this is becoming less and less relevant. But the right approach to teamwork can help you overcome the challenges of remote work. Creating a good environment for teamwork is not so difficult; you just need to pay attention to a few aspects.
Do not be afraid to ask your team for help
We tend to think of group leaders as some kind of omnipotent beings who make all the decisions and give commands to their subordinates. However, in crisis situations, leaders turn to their subordinates for help, trying to gather as many ideas as possible. Most often, this is a winning strategy because when shared struggles arise, only cooperation can lead to victory. All leaders and teams should employ brainstorming, even in the form of a simple question like: "Does anyone have any ideas?" Addressing the team doesn't undermine your authority or expertise. On the contrary, it proves a sense of unity in your team and shared respect.
Create strong corporate bonds
Employees should feel that they are part of the team and feel recognition and belonging. The team has to become your employee's comfort zone, and only then will they be willing to give their best. Companies should ensure quality communication between employees through team-building events. Apart from the employee-employee relationship, it is also worthwhile to do a good job on the quality of the employee-boss relationship. A good leader should give timely, regular feedback, both positive and negative. They should also share with their employees the details of major strategies of which their work is a part to better develop a feeling of trust.
To avoid common mistakes in team dynamics, explore our summary of the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
Learn how to be adjustable to get the most benefits from teamwork
To fit into a team, we often need to be able to adapt and adjust. In the 21st century, the media has created a negative connotation of adaptation by portraying it as "giving up one's self" for the sake of society. However, being a social chameleon is not at all about giving up your characteristics and morals for the approval of others. Sometimes, to build rapport, you have to show your interlocutor that you like them by mimicking their behavior and body language. This is a beneficial but challenging skill. In addition, social chameleons can have another skill — recognizing those team members who don't feel like they fit in enough and helping them. You should have such people on your team or become one yourself.
Embrace your understanding of human feelings to improve your team organization
Listening is also a valuable teamwork skill. Unfortunately, powerful empathy is not available to everyone, creating huge miscommunication problems. Miscommunication due to ignorance on both sides of a conflict can occur at all levels: at school, at the store, and at home. To work successfully in a team, you should learn to look for compromises. Put yourself in the shoes of others and encourage them to do the same. Only then will there always be peace in your team, whether at work or in the family.
If you need more guidance on becoming a better communicator, here is our summary of the book Just Listen.
Organize some rituals to succeed in managing remote teams
During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work proved to be effective. Of course, this format, new to many, was a bit difficult to grasp—there was so much to redesign and change. However, with the right approach, worker efficiency will not suffer from the lack of a shared space. On the contrary, now employees don't have to waste time commuting. Still, the best option for your company might be a hybrid work schedule, where employees alternate days in the office and days at home.
There is a diversity of different corporate cultures, which vary according to company characteristics, areas of activity, and national peculiarities. However, there is a formula for understanding teamwork that works everywhere. These are small meetings and work events that can even be held remotely. For example, you can try to establish rituals or virtual team events like a fifteen-minute morning call in the morning before work and exactly the same in the evening. Not only will this give your coworkers a sense of team activity, but it will also allow them to set their brains into work mode and then turn that mode off at the end of the day.
After all, humans are social creatures that cannot survive alone. This means that corporations should ensure that their employees are not just individuals but a team that breathes as a single entity. To do this, it is worth focusing on feedback and communication. Employees should not be afraid to ask for help. At the same time, they should realize that all their colleagues have emotions and feelings, which means they should be able to find compromises. In addition to listening skills, adaptability will be a helpful teamwork skill. This can be especially important for leaders who want to reach every employee. And lastly, you shouldn't be afraid of remote work. With enough team building, company meetings, and some rituals, you can lead a job that will be no worse than working in an office.
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