Build a Strong Team

No matter if you work for a small or large organization or one in the middle, you likely have to work with a team. Teams can be extremely valuable for organizations, but they can also cause problems if not managed correctly. At their best, teams can promote creativity and innovation, but at their worst, they can create chaos and workplace toxicity. Because effective teams are so important for an organization, leaders need to understand the importance of implementing sound  team building strategies to build a strong team.

Some effective team building strategies for building your best team include:

Remember names.

Before team building can take place, you first need a team. When teams are just forming, a lot of new faces can seem overwhelming. But great team building starts when everyone is willing to make an effort to get to know one another, and the best place to start is by learning everyone’s names. Teach your team members how to remember names by properly listening the first time.

he first step is focusing on what the other person is saying, rather than thinking of your response, and then find a distinguishing feature on the other person to remind you of the person’s name. Then, associate an image with the name, like every time you meet a woman named Kelly, picture a key or another object that reminds you of Kelly. Next, create an action with the associated image and the person’s distinguishing feature. Lastly, repeat and review those names repeatedly until you know every team member’s name.

Change your scenery.

Taking your team members out of the office is a great way that leaders can promote a healthy and strong team. There are many ways to get your team members out of the office, some after hours and some during regular office time. A yearly company barbeque or Christmas party are common team building activities for many organizations, but some less common activities include volunteering, working out or traveling. Creating time for your team members to volunteer or organizing a group outing allows your team members to get to know one another while giving back to your community. Working out is another option, as group sports or group exercise classes not only help your team members bond, but they also help your team members view the importance of focusing on their health. Traveling, whether near or far, is another way that leaders can build their teams into a stronger unit. While this can be a pricier option, the rewards can be well worth the initial expense.

Offer support.

When times get tough, team members are more likely to feel connected to their organization if they feel supported by other team members. For example, when one team member is facing a personal problem that could keep them from fulfilling all of their daily tasks, the other team members can step in and lift some of the burden. Sometimes team members may need to take several weeks off of work, or they may just need a flexible enough schedule that allows them to leave work early every once in a while. No matter the case, if team members feel supported by their team, they will feel more dedicated to the organization and likely to stay in it for the long haul. And then these team members will want to help others when they face adversity as well.

Attend conferences and team building events.

There are many different types of teams; some are made up of co-workers who see each other daily, while others are comprised of long-distant acquaintances in the same industry or department. While long distance team members may be able to accomplish quite a bit online or over the phone, there’s no substitute for one-on-one face time. This is where conferences come in.

Individuals and even whole teams can take a few days away from the office and attend an event that will help them in their organizations. Leaders can benefit from these types of events, and the 6 Principles That Build High Performance Problem Solving Teams Leadership Clinic is one such program. lLeaders learn how to build strong teams for solving complex business problems.  They learn how to ignite strong goal clarity and leverage collaborative behavior that minimizes the time new teams spend in conflict. Leaders also learn the structure and strategies required to facilitate quality role performance and accountability within their teams.

Strong teams are important for an organization’s success, and everyone needs to take accountability for the strength of their team. There are many different things that leaders and team members can do to improve the trust within their teams, including remembering everyone’s names, changing the scenery, offering support to others when they need it and attending team building events and conferences. When all team members take accountability, everyone is invested in the outcome of their team and more likely to work together toward success.

For more strategies, we collected the following articles for your consideration::

• How to Strengthen Your Team by Getting Out of the Office
• 3 Ways to Create a Lasting Long-Term Relationship With Your Team
• 5 Memory Tricks That Will Help You Remember Anyone’s Name
• The Web Connects Me to the World, But Conferences Unite Me With My Tribe
• How Strategic Communications Puts Your Company Ahead of the Pack

Copyright TIGERS Success Series, Inc. by Dianne Crampton