Building Teams

It has been said a million times, but no organization will succeed without teamwork.  Sometimes teamwork can seem like a dirty word.  People can have a hard time working as a team for the benefit of everybody.  Most people are so set in their way of thinking that only includes their success that it can be challenging to take off the blinders and look around at the whole picture. 

Sure, the big picture can be very confusing, nevertheless it will help everybody succeed if it is paid attention to.  But everybody must work together.  That means that everybody must be working towards the same goal.  That does not mean that they all have the same job, however they need to share a vision and a value to aim for.  Who is going to share that vision and get everybody excited about working towards attaining it?  The managers, the supervisors, the employees on the floor?

It must begin from the top, however that doesn’t mean that that is where it should stop.  A good motivator can get everybody on the team enthusiastic and keep them motivated for long periods of time.  Nothing is worse that a roller coaster ride of uncertainty or not feeling like everyone is on the same page.  You can’t be wishy washy about what direction you're going and your team should not feel like it is not always the forefront.  If you aren’t working towards the same goal, then you are working against each other in the long run.  No one should question the goals of the company.

Often times the company will have a creed or a motto that they try to live up to.  Sometimes these are not enough.  The company must state what they are trying to achieve, whether that is the best customer service in the industry or the highest quality device on the market.  Once everybody knows what they are working towards, it is easier to keep their eyes on the prize.

It can not be vague, it must be clear and straightforward and easy to understand.  It won’t be easy to obtain, however that's why everybody has to work so hard to achieve it.  This teamwork does not come naturally; it's going to take hard work from the supervisors and the motivators in the company.  Keeping the ideas and goals alive and on everybody’s minds isn't an easy task.