5 Top Tips To Improve Your Team Effectiveness

Improving the performance of a team should be an ongoing effort - here are a few team building tips that any organisation can benefit from.

1. Value every member of your team

A team is only as strong as its weakest link and for this reason it is essential that each and every member of the team feels valued and important in the work they do. When a team member feels undervalued, or doesn't have a clear picture of what they are supposed to achieve, their work suffers. Use regular one to one meetings to clarify expectations, discuss progress and forward plans, develop and coach and provide meaningful feedback.  

2. Be the kind of organisation that a team member wants to be part of

It's a sad fact that as many as 40% of workers feel completely disconnected from those who employ them. This doesn't have to be the case. Team members need to feel motivated and it is the job of management to take time to find out what motivates each individual and create the necessary conditions for this to happen in the workplace.

3. Develop versatile and passionate leaders

Team members can gain strong commitment to their work through a leader who is strongly committed to his or her work. The passion they bring to the work place can become infectious. When a leader is passionate about the work they do, team members will tend to follow. This situation tends to bring about a higher than expected number of team members becoming engaged in their work. Encourage leaders to develop versatility in their style to deal with a variety of situations and personalities. This will practically guarantee higher production, improved morale and greater efficiency.

4. Engage the workforce

The best way to engage teams in developing new products, services and systems is to involve them in their creation.

5. Make certain that there is always good communication between team members and their management.

Free flowing communication with a positive edge can avoid the "them and us" attitude that is so prevalent in many businesses. There will be disagreements from time to time, but if workers know that they can talk about any problems that might arise and iron out the differences, everything will go smoother and the organisation will have a happier and more efficient team.

Team building is an ongoing task where new ways to motivate and encourage team members can always be found. Remember it all starts with effective leadership.