What Your Boss Needs To Know About Teamwork [Infographic]

David Keane http://www.davittcorporatepartners.com 4m 892 #teamwork

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

We all know how crucial teamwork is to a working environment, it’s the bread and butter that keeps a company going during the good and bad times. However, do you know as an employee what is required for successful teamwork or better yet, does your boss know?

Our infographic gives you the insight and also, provides some inspiration around the topic of teamwork through some great examples in business, nature and sport. For example, did you know that, when it comes to predicting the success of a great team, the most important element is how well the team communicates during informal meetings? Also, according to research, 31 percent of office workers say they can’t stand teambuilding activities!

Furthermore, get some inspirational quotes from famous team leaders like Henry Ford; He once said “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Find out what teamwork is really about in our infographic and don’t forget to tell your boss!

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What Your Boss Needs To Know About Teamwork

Teamwork is a common term used in the workplace. In fact, in many workplaces, it is the only term that is used time and time again for good reason it seems.

What does it stand for?

T – TALENT
E – ENTHUSIASM
A – ACCOUNTABILITY
M – MANAGEMENT

W – WORKABLE
O – OPENNESS
R – RESPECT
K – KEENNESS

What do the Researchers say?

Based on a study from MIT, when it comes to predicting the success of a great team, the most important element is how well the team communicates during informal meetings.

According to research, 31 percent of office workers say they can’t stand team building activities.

Professor J. Richard Hackman said excessive size is one of the most common impediments to effective collaboration. The larger the group, the higher the likelihood of social loafing (sometimes called free riding or free loading).

Team training interventions are a viable approach organizations can take in order to enhance team outcomes. They are useful for improving cognitive outcomes, effective outcomes, teamwork processes, and performance outcomes say researchers at the University of Central Florida.

A great team will explore for ideas and information outside the group, according to research by MIT. They will connect with many different outside sources and bring what they learn back to the team.

Inspiration Teamwork Quotes

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is process. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford (Founder of the Ford Motor Company)

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, and a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi (Former American Football player and coach)

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” – Michael Jordan (Former professional basketball player)

“Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me, and I’ll understand.” – Benjamin Franklin (Chinese proverb, later altered and used by Benjamin Franklin)

“Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller (Author, Political Activist, and Lecturer)

“I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition.” – Jean-Francois Cope (French Politician)

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson (President of the New York Knicks)

“The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” – James Cash Penney (Founder of J.C. Penney Stores)

Teamwork at its Best

Sports – Phil Jackson & The Chicago Bulls/LA Lakers

Goal – To win NBA Championships

How was it Achieved?

Phil Jackson has the luck of coaching the best talent in the NBA during the 1990s and 2000s, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. However, in order to win championships, he knew that it wasn’t just about individual players. He developed a culture where team unity and selflessness reigned over individual agendas – something which was challenging in the NBA at the time where “star status” and building individual stars was the norm.

Business – Steve Jobs & Apple

Goal – Create innovative products

How was it Achieved?

Steve Jobs has many work philosophies, however, the one which stands out when focusing on teamwork is evident in the following quote: “If you want to hire great people and have them stay working for you, you have to let them make a lot of decisions. You have to be run by ideas, not hierarchy.”

Steve met with Apple division heads once a week in a 3-hour meeting where they would discuss everything. He described his role as one who helps people solve their issues, then stepped back and let them figure out the rest. To put it simply: Hire smart people, make them accountable, and then get out of their way!

Nature – A Flock of Geese Migrating

Goal – Fly south to reach their winter grounds

How is it achieved?

The geese honk at each other to encourage other geese who are getting tired or straggling. When the entire flock flies together in the V formation, each good creates uplift and reduces drag for the goose flying behind it. Each good in a flock shares and rotates the “front bird” position.

Davitt Corporate Psychology
www.davittcorporatepartners.com

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