teamwork – Personal Growth Cafe

Whether you’re working in a job that requires teamwork or you have a family with children, it’s important to know how to work well in teams.

It’s not always easy to work in teams but the rewards can be worth it.

The key to working well in teams is to have great communication among everyone involved.

As a team member, communication is critically important.

If you have a problem with other team members, talk to them directly.

If you can’t talk and listen to other team members you might as well be working individually.

Communicating effectively can also make your team, as a whole, work better and accomplish your given tasks quicker.

Here are some other ideas to help you work well with team members:

1. First focus on the work assigned to you.

If you finish with your task before other team members, ask other members if they need your help.

2. Meet your deadlines.

If you must miss a deadline, apologize for not meeting it, tell your team when they’ll have your part, and then make sure you meet that deadline.

The rest of the team will respect you more for owning up to your problem rather than blaming someone else.

3. Be supportive of your team members.

When discussing ideas for the project you’re working on, be sure to consider other team members’ suggestions, even if you don’t think they’ll work.

Considering other ideas shows you’re interested in someone else’s opinion.

4. Realize the project is a collaborative effort.

It doesn’t belong to any one person. It’s important that each team member can claim ownership of some part of the project.

By having ownership they’re more likely to put forth the effort to make the project a success.

If you’re leading the team, let the team members know what’s expected of them.

Establish clear objectives and how each person will contribute.

Be open to making changes if someone else can do a certain aspect of the job better than the person you assigned to do it.

5. Motivate the team.

Work on establishing and maintaining each team member’s morale and their motivation to succeed as a team.

Give them a reason to want the team to succeed rather than riding off into the project sunset like the Lone Ranger.

6. Work together on the plan.

The team will feel more ownership of the project if everyone works together to set goals and establish deadlines for the various aspects of the job.

Meet together periodically to check on progress.

Switch jobs among team members if necessary.

Everyone needs to pitch in to be sure the job is done correctly and on time.

Learning how to work well in teams is so important, not only in business, but also in families.

Children need to learn how to cooperate for the greater good instead of being concerned only with their own good.

If you teach children about teamwork when they’re young, chances are good that they’ll be better team players when they grow up.

Practice these teamwork tips, and soon you’ll find better team cooperation and more successful team projects both in the workplace and at home.

How can you be happy for others without feeling the need to compete?

How have you communicated your feelings in a safe and honest way?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 9, 2018January 8, 2018

Improve Office Morale with Gratitude and Teamwork

We all desire recognition for a job well done, especially as members of a team.

As a team, each person works together toward a common goal.

Now instead of working together, imagine a team where each person was only interested in their own, separate little interests.

Would you be able to get anything done?

Of course not!

When you’re working within a team you have to put personal interests aside and focus on the collective.

If you don’t, tempers flare and trouble ensues.

Teams composed of members who can’t put differences aside don’t win. Put simply: you won’t achieve the success you want if you aren’t focused on the common goal.

United We Stand – Teamwork Tips

The key strategy to boost office morale and team productivity is to stand strong behind your common goal.

By creating a unified front, you will be able to work together, instead of pulling apart.

Here are some teamwork tips:

Appoint a team leader to oversee the progress and to keep everyone motivated to finish the project on time.

Assign jobs according to the strengths of each team member.

People naturally procrastinate when faced with a daunting task they’re uncomfortable with, so divide the work accordingly.

Praise team members for a job well done.

Acknowledge each person’s hard work and dedication and be sure to pass along any positive feedback from clients or upper level management.

Set up a team reward upon successful completion of a project.

Money doesn’t have to be the only motivating factor to spur your team. Maybe it’s time-off, a gift basket, or a trophy.

Get an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Office

How can tension within the office be turned around?

Gratitude. Yes, it really is that simple!

Each member needs to felt appreciated for his or her contributions and value added to the team.

Imagine a football team.

If the quarterback isn’t grateful for the offensive line who blocks for him, the wide receivers who catch his passes, and the running backs who he can hand off the ball to, he will not have confidence in his teammates.

This lack of confidence will show up as miscommunications, blown plays and lost games.

The same things happen in the office!

In reality, an office setting is very much like being on a football team. You have to show gratitude to the:

Administrative assistants who keep things organized and flowing

Salesmen who bring in new profits for the company

Human resources representatives who bring in new talent for you to work with

Marketers who make the company known

Managers who coach, inspire, and lead

Staff who tackle the finer details and makes things happen

Everyone plays an important part of the team, which is why we all need to appreciate one another in order to get things done!

After all, without each other, where would you be?

Gratitude Leads to Effective Teamwork

Once you’re grateful for the skills and talents of your team members, you’ll begin to appreciate how each part of the puzzle is important for the overall success of the team.

You may even discover a renewed excitement about your job and all the projects your team can accomplish.

Let others in the office know how you appreciate their time, talents, and hard work.

Send out emails or mention specific names in the company newsletter.

Let your team know you care about them as people and not just as workers.

Encourage your workers to start up office clubs or activities that everyone can enjoy as a group.

Doing so will help you get to know each other on a more casual basis.

Remember: it all starts with acknowledging how grateful you are for the talents of those around you. So take a moment today to say “Thank You!”

How do you feel when you do things with a team?

How can good teamwork make the workload lighter?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 8, 2018January 8, 2018

How to Build a Happy and Productive Team at Work

If you’re in charge of a project at work, you’ll find that one of your most important priorities is to make sure your team is going to get along and get things done effectively.

A happy and well-organized team is one that will excel.

So what are the best ways to make sure that your team is in good shape?

Take a look at the tips below to help you build a strong team.

Get to Know Your Team’s Members

Take the time to really learn about everyone on the team.

What is each team member like and what are they good at?

Knowing your team’s skills and weaknesses is something that is important to keeping everyone happy and productive.

You’ll find that when you’re looking to get the best results from your team, you need to know what they excel in.

This can help you figure out where to place them and what to make them responsible for.

Keep Everyone on the Same Page

One reason good teams fall apart is that some members have information others do not or some members feel unequal to others.

Remember that keeping your team briefed is an extremely important part of being a good team leader.

Keep everyone up to date on the information that is available, and if it is not available, let them know why.

Don’t Force Contrasting Personalities to Work Together

There’s a chance you’ll have two people on your team who aren’t going to get along.

That’s okay. Your team doesn’t have to be a second family. Trying to force all team members to get along can cause more trouble in the long run!

Acknowledge that everyone doesn’t have to get along, but everyone must be respectful.

Personality clashes might, whether you like it or not, spill over on the job, so avoid taking sides and, instead, find a swift solution to resolve any conflicts.

Don’t Let Bad Apples Hold the Team Back

It’s almost inevitable that you’ll have a member of your team who thinks they can sit back and let the rest of the group do all the work.

If you find yourself in this predicament, don’t let it set the entire team back.

If, after discussing the issue with the employee, they still refuse to pull their weight, remove them from the team and assign their portion to someone else.

As the team’s leader, you may need to take on the extra work yourself, but at least it’s getting done and your team will appreciate and respect your efforts.

Be Respectful of Their Talents

One of the most important things a team leader can do is to stand back and let talented people work.

When you’re constantly hovering over their shoulder, you’re essentially saying that you don’t trust them to do their job. Have faith in your team!

If they say they’ll deliver, make sure you respect their promise unless you have a justifiable reason to doubt them.

Remember, if members of your team are already working hard there’s no reason to crack the whip on them.

Reward Members for a Job Well Done

One great thing you can do is to show your team how much you appreciate their efforts.

Check with management, if necessary, to decide how you can reward your team so they know you appreciate their hard work.

Whether you take them out to lunch or something as simple as letting everyone out a little early, rewarding your team can go a long way towards making them more productive.

Above all, don’t lose sight of how you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes.

Keeping those feelings, along with the tips above, in mind will create a fun and team oriented atmosphere for everyone involved.

How different is being a boss from being a leader?

How can you make the most out of the team you have?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 7, 2018January 8, 2018

How to Develop Leadership Skills

When you have high career aspirations, one thing you need to establish right off the bat is the fact that you can be a leader.

In fact, you probably already are and just don’t know it yet.

Whether you’re new to a particular office environment or you’ve been thinking about a way to get to the position you really want, being a good leader is important.

Everybody can think of at least one “natural” leader in the office, but how do you become a leader if you’re not born with those skills?

When you’re trying to become an excellent leader, you have to first make a name for yourself.

Avoid looking like someone who is overbearing or ridiculously ambitious.

So, how do you find the balance between the two?

Take some time to consider the tips below to help you become a great leader at work without looking like a fool.

Get to Know Everyone

No matter who they are, or what they do, whether they’re related to your projects or not, make it a point to really get to know everyone you come in contact with.

This means getting out and mingling a little bit.

For example:

Go to company gatherings.

Stop and talk to people; show a true interest in their work.

Ask others about themselves – let them do most of the talking.

Even if they’re not people who can help your career directly, getting to know those you work with will teach you a lot about how the business works and what is going on.

You can start making connections between the different individuals you come in contact with and this can lead to wondrous things later when you need to put together a team.

Know When to Turn Down Work

Leaders are often considered the go-to guy or the go-to gal, so you might think a leader needs to accept every proposed project.

In reality, this isn’t true. If you look over a project and determine you can’t handle it well, you’re going to be in a much better place by not accepting it.

Show respect to your colleagues and client by helping them find a capable person to complete the project if you’re not able to do so.

You should never avoid a project just because it is too much work.

Always cite specific reasons you can’t complete a project.

This shows that you are able to take ownership of your schedule.

Plus, it proves that you only want to provide top quality results to others, not just rush jobs.

A simple “no” can be a great way to get others to take notice, especially if you’re otherwise very agreeable.

Here are a few positive ways to turn down a project or assignment.

“I’d really love to help out but I’m just swamped right now.

I’d be able to do it next week, or perhaps I can help you find someone else who can get it done for you.

I don’t want to do a crummy job just to get it done on time for you.”

“Thanks for thinking of me! I want to help out but I have a lot on my plate this week.

What about we setup a quick meeting to discuss the task and see if I can help you get on the right track, that way you can get it done on time?”

Work as Hard as Anyone Else

One of the great traits of good leaders is their willingness to work as hard as any of their teammates.

If your team is working long hours, work with them. Lead by example and show them you’re willing to work and not just sit back and receive the credit.

By showing your team this kind of respect, you’ll find they’ll respect you in return.

Offer Solutions

While you should strive to tackle problems before they happen, from time to time this isn’t possible.

When things are problematic, make sure you step in with a solution that you’re willing to work on to improve the situation.

Being remembered as someone who came forward with a solution will go a long way to earning respect as a leader in the workplace.

You can become a leader in your workplace, it just takes a little bit of time and effort, but it’ll be worth it!

How can being a leader give you joy?

How prepared are you to be a great leader?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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Tag: teamwork

Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. – Michael Jordan

How to Work Well In Teams

Improve Office Morale with Gratitude and Teamwork

How to Build a Happy and Productive Team at Work

How to Develop Leadership Skills