Implementing teamwork and communicating the goals for success is only half the battle in succeeding with teams. If left to nurture themselves, the business will not attain the goals set, some teams will strive for success while others might lag behind, the key is to motivate and inspire them to reach further and higher in order to keep moving forward.

In order to inspire teams, the company leaders need to implement and pass on several concepts:

1. Common Goals
The first step in inspiring a team is to make sure they understand what the business goals are, and that they understand that those goals are to be aimed for regardless of individual goals.

The common goal for the team should be consistent with the business owner’s goals for the business. Team leaders should know and understand this in order to pass it on to their team members and inspire them to reach the goal.

2. Strong Leadership
People, particularly in the workplace, tend to follow the pace set by their leaders. If the leadership of the company and team is seen as strong and confident, the team will pick up on the attitude and apply it to their work.

Strong leaders have the ability to instill teams the desire to go above and beyond what is expected of them, what has been termed ‘discretionary effort’ – extra effort provided by people when they want to provide it. Leaders can provide the inspiration for this by displaying leadership and personal humility in their professional lives in such a manner that the teams feel they have a caring and hard working leader.

Strong leaders also have the ability to be both the praiser and the scapegoat, crediting their employees when things are going well and yet taking blame for times when things aren’t going so well.

3. Defined Limits and Rules
A leader who defines the limits and rules of the company clearly and makes them openly available will create teams that understand the rules of the game and know what is expected. Companies who don’t define the values and culture of the company or the expected responsibilities of each role will find they have a company that either has to be policed by a manager which stifles teams, or they find they have a business that is running itself, which may not be in the best interest of the company.

4. Support Innovation and Ideas
Teams that are allowed to express their ideas and implement them feel more a part of the company’s growth and are more willing to go that extra mile. Business growth is about trying new ideas and taking risks, the level of creativity allowed is based on the type of business, the point is allowing team leaders and teams to reach out and offer their ideas.

6. Include Everyone in the Business
Most everyone has experienced the dreaded feeling of seeing the bosses go into a closed door meeting. Tensions rise and people start doubting themselves. While it is impossible for all employees to be included in absolutely everything in a company, it is important for teams and team leaders to feel they are kept up to speed on the company and its growth and its concerns.

Open communication is important in inspiring teams to move forward. The fear of the unknown is a powerful deflator in teamwork. Worrying about what is going on in the company can slow progress, while open communication and being included in as much as possible will inspire the teams to perform better.

Inspiring teams to reach their goals is an important part of being a business leader. Communication, strong leadership qualities, allowing ideas and having an open business model are all inspiring factors that lead to successful teams.

This is article is written and owned by Workplace Excellence, LLC.

Creating the common cause for the team is not the end of the task. It must be followed up on and seen through to the conclusion of the goal, an on-going and challenging aspect of teamwork that many leaders find daunting.

Team leaders and company leaders find it difficult to get everyone on the same page and united. The team members must all have an understanding of the priorities. In order for this to occur, team leaders must consistently communicate ideas throughout the company.

In order to create a common cause for the company and have it shared among teams, it is important that team leaders understand human behavior and that people, no matter whether at work or in their private life, have varying ideas, opinions and past experiences from which they draw conclusions about how things should be done.

Team leaders need to understand that in order for teamwork to succeed and the common cause met, teams need to understand the cause and know priorities. They need to work towards creating a climate where everyone knows and understands that priorities are shared and everyone understands the end goal.

Teamwork depends on each team being as concerned about the end goal as the other team, not just what their team is responsible for completing. Goals should be approached simultaneously rather than sequentially. Leaders, both team and upper management need to communicate the key success factors that will drive the teams to success.

Typically, companies have up to three success factors that they have implemented for their company. These success factors can be looked at as the company’s overall philosophy that has made it a success; for some companies, it is out-pricing the completion, for others it could be timely delivery of the product. No matter what it is, it is the driving force behind the company and what made it work. Leaders should take these factors and use them in a manner that gets everyone motivated and on the same page in order to reach the same goal.

Making it Work
So, the end question is how to get teams to work toward a common cause? Invariably, it boils down to communication. Not posting a rule or chart for others to follow, but in real, human communication where people are listening to each other and doing so in an active manner. Active listening and understanding help people understand what is expected of them, and what they are working toward.

Another important factor in making teamwork come together for a common cause is respecting team members’ individuality and allowing for open communication, even when sharing involves hearing out what their fears and worries are and then offering feedback that is conducive to growth.

Teamwork relies upon the common cause being communicated clearly and consistently. It is reliant on the sharing of thoughts and ideas of team members and the reception of those thoughts by team leaders being open. The common cause of the company will become the common cause of every team and in the end produce the desired results – a successful company with happy employees.

Today, I am Panama City, Panama and I just had an amazing visit to the famed Panama Canal. It is was very interesting to see how the collective effort of men from around the world with different ethnic, socio-economic and educational backgrounds came together to achieve such amazing feat. The workforce peaked out at over 30,000 people by the end of the project in 1913. For more on the amazing history of the canal visit http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/history/.

As I begin the series of teamwork I want to challenge our genuine views on the topic, as it is my opinion that many hear the benefits espoused but we don’t always understand the dynamics that hinder or foster teamwork. So forgive me if I get a little academic at first or get on a soapbox for a minute.

First let me say, that human nature is to work towards self-satisfaction and to improve one’s own life and surroundings. In the workplace, this is not conducive to achieving the common goal of furthering the organization, which in turn furthers the individual’s goal of self-satisfaction and improvement. This is the base idea behind team work, working together towards a common goal which in turn furthers individual goals.

The introduction of teamwork into the workplace is often not handled correctly and the outcome is a breakdown in communications and processes leading to negligence of the goal in mind. Teamwork is not a costly process; it is a process of utilizing the already existing attributes of employees, the work ethics of the team, synergy, good communication and a commitment to reaching the end goal for the greater good of the company.

Utilizing teamwork in an organization can lessen or eliminate many of the stressors that are prominent when there is not a culture of teamwork. Insecurity and distrust due to information not being shared is no longer an issue. The team shares information among themselves and with other teams at specified team meetings. Each member of the team feels as important as the next due to this sharing of information.

Poor performance tends to be less of a factor when companies utilize teams. Members of the team don’t want to be seen as the one causing the slowdown or lack of production and thus will work more cooperatively toward the goals. Departmental teams will overtime develop a natural competition and should be guided to prevent it from becoming detrimental. Conversely, it should not be totally dissuaded. Most of us have a naturally competitive spirit that often compels us to perform better.

Senior leaders should observe and communicate to teams the expectations of the departments. It should be stressed that teams are meant to work together, not be divisive. This should be continually stressed in meetings and throughout the organization. Teams should be encouraged to work together and communicate with each other, lest the process break down.

Team leaders who are effectively leading there team are able to allow more autonomy and self-supervision. Good team leaders are able to create strong teams and garner respect not only from the team but from other teams in the company. Team leaders lead by example, for instance, working with other team leaders to solve internal problems, thereby fostering the team spirit.

Once a company establishes teams it is important to consider investing in problem solving skills, learning the process of dealing with groups and group dynamics and team management skills. Teams will be more efficient and productive and able to outperform teams who do not receive any training.

Checkout the book by author, Patrick Lencioni’s, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (J-B Lencioni Series) as a great resource for overcoming team cohesiveness, you can also check The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Video Presentation.

Teamwork within a company fosters creativity and initiative. Members of the team are more apt to provide input and extra effort as necessary. Employees feel more ownership and involvement in the company when they work as a team, creating a tighter team and more solid work group.

Organizations should consider teamwork a priority, not a catch phrase to toss around during a board meeting and not follow through with on afterwards. Teamwork, when nurtured and implemented properly, can be the mitigating factor to achieving company goals and keep highly engaged employees who go the extra mile. Clients and customers will notice the teamwork spirit almost immediately.