We Sit, You Speak; We Ignite, You Shine
Teamwork: A Key to Organizational Productivity
Steve Wynn, the founder of Wynn Resort & Casino, shared a story of his family’s vacation in Paris. They were staying at Four Seasons and had ordered breakfast in bed. His daughter only ate half of a croissant, leaving the other half for later. Wynn and his family left to explore Paris, and upon returning to the hotel room, the pastry was gone. His daughter was disappointed, assuming the housekeeping had gotten rid of it.
On the telephone, there was a message from the front desk. They said that housekeeping had removed the half-croissant from the room, assuming that upon arrival, they would prefer a fresh pastry. So, the front desk contacted the kitchen to set aside a croissant, and room service was informed that upon request, they would need to deliver the pastry.
The level of teamwork and communication between different departments in the hotel was simply magical. All participants understood the result – customer satisfaction; and so, everyone accepted their role in making that result a reality.
It shows that to achieve satisfaction on different levels within the organization, employees should be empowered to be creative, intuitive, thorough, and generous.
Teamwork is the process of working collaboratively with a group of people to achieve a goal. Teamwork is often a crucial part of a business, as it is often necessary for colleagues to work well together, trying their best in any circumstance. A good team enables you to be productive both as a group and as an individual.
Research shows that collaborative problem-solving leads to better outcomes. People are more likely to take calculated risks that lead to innovation if they have the support of a team behind them. Working in a team encourages personal growth, increases job satisfaction, and reduces stress.
Benefits of Teamwork
- Realistic, achievable goals can be established for the team and individual members.
- Team members commit to support each other.
- Team members understand one another’s priorities.
- Communication is open.
- Problem solving is more effective.
- Performance feedback is more meaningful.
- Conflict is understood as normal.
- Balance is maintained between group members for productivity.
- The team is recognized for outstanding results.
- Members are encouraged to test their abilities and try out ideas.
Six paths to better teamwork
- Learn the rules for effective communication and consistently practice them.
- Deal effectively with inevitable conflicts between coworkers; learn how to handle conflict through professional dialogue.
- Make sure all members of the team are included in initiatives to build teamwork and achieve quality outcomes.
- Encourage purposeful peer interaction with a focus on achieving common organizational goals.
- Recognize that, regardless of your title, you are an important leader.
- Use your influence in a positive manner to help resolve conflict and achieve excellence.
