Teamwork is a critical factor within every workplace. All work environments reap the benefits of a team orientation, even if employees work in separate departments or in distant work groups at multiple work sites. Although employees might work independently or in remote areas on flexible schedules, the one common organizational goal of profitability is evidence that employees are still members of a team.
Review your staff for an understanding of the variety of occupations in the workforce. Note the organizational structure and how work groups and teams contribute to the overall success. Gather information about company performance to glean examples of performance and productivity you can attribute to teamwork.
Draft a section congratulating staff for their individual contributions. Describe the organization’s philosophy and mission. Explain how individual employees are responsible for upholding company principles and embracing business ethics that foster teamwork. Recognize teams and work groups for their contributions to company success--provide examples of accomplishments, including sales records, customer feedback, peer evaluations and commendations.
Write one paragraph about department contributions, giving specific examples of effective interdepartmental relationships. For example, describe how an efficient shipping department assists the sales department in meeting customer service goals. Sales representatives can only guarantee quick shipment of products when they have a collegial relationship with shipping agents.
Define ways to maintain seamless operations through teamwork. Suggest that supervisors continue to work with employees to identify work goals and provide one-on-one guidance to employees whose performance slips below company expectations. Stress the value of supervisors and employees working together.
Recommend that employees use communication and conflict resolution skills to overcome challenges that threaten the ability to work as a team. Provide examples of how communication can make or break a work relationship.
Remind directors and managers to model behavior that encourages a collegial attitude throughout the workplace. Ask upper management to refrain from behavior and actions that suggest they are not being held accountable for their responsibilities as team leaders.
Distribute copies of the letter to all employees. Dispatch a copy to each employee's home address or distribute copies during an all-staff meeting. Small businesses can benefit from presenting the letter during a meeting where employees are welcome to share their feedback in a public forum. Large organizations may benefit from sending the letter to employees and inviting input from employees via the company’s open-door policy.
- "Entrepreneur" magazine; How to Foster Effective Teamwork; Dr. David G. Javitch; May 2003
- Longwoods: Effective Teamwork in Healthcare: Research and Reality; David Clements, et al.
- University of Massachusetts Boston; Effective Teamwork: Why Competitive Individualism Needs to be Replaced by Teamwork; J. Allyn Bradford
- The Happy Manager: Teamwork in the Workplace: Creating the Conditions
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