6 Keys to Building a Foundation for Effective Teamwork
“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage,
both because it is so powerful and so rare.” – Patrick Lencioni
As a business owner, one of the best investments of your time is building a foundation for teamwork. A strong team allows you to focus on growth and the future of your business, while a weak or inexperienced team can keep you mired in day-to-day operations.
6 Keys to Effective Team Building
Teams don’t just happen. Not every employee you hire will know how to collaborate and communicate. Some staff members may have worked alone in previous positions.
Your role as a leader is to inspire your team to adopt your vision of success and then provide them with the tools, training and work environment that will enable them to work together to achieve your vision. Here’s how to build that foundation.
Strong Leadership
- Practice open communication
- Be transparent
- Model desired behaviors
- Provide clarity
- Offer timely feedback
- Lift up team members
Common Goals
- Clarify what’s important
- Convey how team members fit into the organization
- Align values, vision and mission with business objectives to send a clear, consistent message to employees
Rules of the Game
- Provide comprehensive, clear standard operating procedures, rules and guidelines
- Define roles and responsibilities
- Clearly articulate and detail expectations
Action Plans
- Develop detailed roadmaps
- Follow the plans you develop
Support Risk Taking
- Ignite innovation
- Motivate team members to contribute new ideas
- Create learning opportunities when mistakes occur
100% Involvement and Inclusion
- Invite participation
- Give everyone a voice
If you would like to learn more about how this might apply to your business, let’s talk:
