5 Teambuilding Practices that Lead to Organizational Success

March 6, 2019

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Bringing in hands It is well acknowledged that strong teams can lead to organizational success. Team leaders need to be able to recognize the strengths of each individual employee and put their skills to good use. The following practices provide essential insight for managers and business leaders to build effective, motivated teams that can work efficiently together, overcome obstacles, and achieve project goals that support the organization.

1. Assign Leadership Roles and Develop Leaders Within Teams

Leadership is the cornerstone of nurturing strong, effective teams within an organization. As an organizational manager, it is crucial to provide mentorship to team members who exhibit the qualities of a leader. Managers should be able to identify the potential of high-performing employees and provide professional development, coaching, and education opportunities to support these individuals to the next level. If a manager notices a team member demonstrating qualities such as — focusing on team goals, building commitment within the team, helping others enhance their skills, managing conflicts, removing obstacles, and providing opportunities to others without seeking personal credit — they should assign that person a leadership role within the team.

2. Invest in Diversity

There are many benefits for organizations that build diverse teams. Teams whose members are of different races, ethnicities, and genders are shown to perform more effectively, produce better financial results, and have less turnover. According to a 2015 survey by McKinsey & Company, of 366 companies across various industries, those with the top percentage of racial and ethnic diversity were 35 percent more likely to financially outperform less diverse companies. In business environments marked by increased globalization and the need to market to diverse populations, building teams with members from varied backgrounds can provide valuable insights and innovation, and skill sets that can heighten organizational success.

3. Define Clear Goals

Strong teams work together as a unit to accomplish their goals. To ensure a team is able to focus its energy effectively, it must have both its short- and long-term goals clearly defined. If the big picture is not sufficiently clear, team members may find it difficult to be motivated and commit themselves to their work. However, a clear understanding of well-defined goals assists the team in many ways. It helps establish the roles of each individual team member. It also helps in systematically meeting the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that must be completed to stay on track for success.

4. Encourage Clear and Open Communication

Transparency and open communication are requisite for building effective teams. Free communication allows team members to feel valued, voice their concerns and add their perspectives. Similar to setting clear and defined goals, transparent communication also helps team leaders and members more successfully focus their work. Teams that lack open communication may find their tasks often overlap with those of other team members. This leads to wasted time, resources and inefficiency. In addition to keeping teams focused on goals, open communication is necessary for overcoming team conflicts. Whenever a group of people works closely together over long periods of time, disagreements and interpersonal obstacles will naturally arise. Open communication allows for everyone to be heard, which leads to understanding the root of the conflict and discovering necessary solutions to keep the team moving forward.

5. Incentives and Motivation

Another technique for creating productive, focused teams is to provide employees with incentives that motivate and encourage greater performance. While monetary incentives such as additional pay, time off, or other prizes can be effective, non-monetary incentives can perform equally well. Rewards such as — being chosen to work on a high-profile project or having the opportunity to lead a team — can provide stronger long-term results and have a greater impact on an employee’s overall performance. Incentives that increase motivation are essential because building a team member’s confidence helps them trust their instincts. This in turn empowers them to take the strategic risks that can bring a team and its organization to greater success. Managers can motivate their teams through monetary and non-monetary rewards, verbal encouragement, written emails or notes of gratitude, and by leading by example.

As technology and globalization continue to change the way businesses and workforces operate, the value of teamwork that can accomplish organizational objectives will continue to grow. Whether dealing with virtual teams, cross-functional employee groups, or project-specific crews, clear and unified leadership is necessary to produce positive results. Managers who can nurture, build, and motivate high performing teams can achieve success for their entire organization — and can widen their own potential.

Team Building and Healthcare Organizational Success

Care provider organizations need talented healthcare administrators to lead future generations of dedicated medical professionals. Administrators guide healthcare employees in navigating a caregiving environment that grows increasingly complex each day. If healthcare administrators are the bricks that hold up the walls of America’s healthcare facilities, properly educated medical personnel are the foundation that the bricks rest on. Consequently, delivering positive health outcomes starts with a top-notch education.

Learn More

As healthcare evolves, so can your career. Start by forming a clear strategy. At George Washington University, our online Healthcare MBA draws insights from elite faculty leaders based in the nation’s capital. As a pioneer in the industry, this program is designed to help professionals expand upon decades of experience to hone specialized expertise — and it has helped graduates succeed for more than 15 years.