Bringing the Team Together
Diverse personalities. Specialized skill sets. Unique strengths. Varied perspectives, agendas and motivations.
If you’ve ever managed a team, you can appreciate all the ways individual members are different. The question is, how can you get a group of diverse employees to work together toward achieving a common goal?
Building a successful team is a lot like pulling together a sophisticated work outfit.
Below, PrideStaff shares practical tips for bringing your team together – so it looks like a cohesive outfit instead of a drawer full of mismatched socks:
Establish ground rules. You need to follow certain rules of fashion to put together a great work outfit. Teams are no different: to succeed, members need clear, sensible rules under which to operate. When members understand and buy into the “rules of engagement,” you lay a solid foundation for alignment, cohesion and shared success.
Clarify expectations, commitments and responsibilities. For any team to be effective, its members must all understand why the team was created, as well as the reasons each team member was selected. Before you get to work, however, make sure you also clearly communicate:
- Responsibilities of each individual member, as well as the entire group.
- How individual and group contributions impact the organization as a whole.
- Outcomes the team and individuals are required to achieve.
- Key deadlines and milestones.
- Accountability measures.
Play to individuals’ natural personality styles. From “Type A” control freaks to passive “wallflowers,” each personality type has its drawbacks and strengths. As a manager, it’s up to you to identify – and leverage – the positives. Do your homework to understand what motivates each basic personality type, so you can flex your management approach and get the most from them. As team needs change, assign responsibilities to employees in ways that complement their natural personality styles.
Promote social interaction. It’s no surprise: people who know one another well and feel comfortable being honest are more likely to work well as a group. As a leader, it’s your job to break down barriers and build esprit de corps within your team. Whether you choose to host a formal team-building event or simply encourage more informal social interactions, do what you can to get your team members communicating frequently and candidly.
Looking for more ways to improve team performance?
Contact your local PrideStaff office today. As a leading national employment agency, we provide a full complement of hiring and workforce solutions to help you build, manage and boost the performance of your growing team.
