How to Build Teamwork in the Office

culled from:wikihow..com

Method 1 of 5: Understand the Dynamics of Teamwork

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   Assess current office dynamics. Watch for signs of team dysfunction as evidenced by complaints from employees or customers, decreased productivity, constant conflict between team members or low participation in regular meetings.
   • Observe current attitudes and beliefs among office workers. For example, some team members might believe that working together will stifle their creativity or interfere with personal advancement.
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      Become familiar with signs of effective teams. Collaborative problem-solving, motivated group members, open communication between members, greater innovation and increased productivity are a few examples.

   Method 2 of 5: Clarify Team Building Goals and Individual Roles

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      Establish team building goals. These should be objectives that benefit both the organization and individual team members. For example, the goal of office workers may be to complete tasks more quickly and accurately in order to leave on time each day.
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      Identify individual roles. Clarifying the tasks and responsibilities of each team member helps to minimize conflicts and miscommunication.

   Method 3 of 5: Implement Team Meetings and Social Gatherings

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      Establish regular team meetings. Require participation in the meetings, which might take place weekly or biweekly.
      • Create an atmosphere that fosters open communication. Serve as an example by listening to suggestions, concerns and questions from all team members. Building trust in this way allows others to openly communicate their ideas and challenges.
      • Build consensus in meetings on important issues. When significant decisions must be made, ask for input from all team members in the office. Arrive at decisions by establishing consensus and voting on important matters.
      • Keep the meeting size manageable. Team building is typically easier to accomplish in smaller groups of 3 to 6 people than large groups of 20 or 30 office workers.
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      Plan social gatherings in the office. A biweekly potluck or ordering pizza 1 day a week allows employees to relax and get to know one another.

   Method 4 of 5: Facilitate Team Exercises and Activities

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      Select appropriate team building exercises. For example, team members can pair up, get to know one another and then introduce each other to the group, highlighting strengths and interests. Team building exercises should always have a positive emphasis, increasing trust and drawing out the potential of each worker.
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      Encourage office members to teach skills and share information with one another. In some offices, employees withhold important information as leverage for gaining power or advancing their careers. Establish a safe environment that values sharing and collaboration.
      • Reward the entire team. When team members work together successfully, reward their collective effort with a bonus, free lunch, time off or praise.

   Method 5 of 5: Use Problems as an Opportunity to Strengthen Teamwork

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   Encourage teammates to alternate taking on various roles. Initiating discussions, delivering reports or mediating conflicts can be done by a different person each time, allowing everyone to develop these skills and gain an understanding of team challenges.
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   Assign a task force to research issues. If the company or office encounters challenging obstacles, assign a group of people to research the matters and present their findings to the larger group.
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   Set time limits for making decisions. Encourage team members to work together within allotted time frames, examining the pros and cons of issues and solving problems by consensus.