10 Ways to Build a Better Team

Whether you work with one other person or a group of a hundred, the team dynamic is a very important and delicate part of your success. Important because working well together is truly essential for achieving your goals. Delicate because there is a very precise balance that must be struck for groups of people to interact and be productive on a regular basis together. Mixing different personalities (and egos) can be a serious task. It takes effort to keep the group functioning at optimal levels and focused on the same goals. Rarely does it "just happen" without someone taking the lead. Here are some tips for building your team. No matter what the size, the basic rules are typically the same. If you're able to "take the lead" in your office, go for it. If you have an office manager or someone else who would be a more appropriate leader, forward them the link to this post. But you'll also find that you can implement many of these tips yourself, just by making the smallest effort.

1. Have fun

A group of people who know how to let loose together will feel a stronger bond towards one another. Spending a little off-work time together doing non-work related activities reminds you that the people you see everyday have lives outside of the office. And usually, they're much more interesting people out in the real world. Have a group picnic. Take the group to a baseball game. What the heck, make your own baseball team and join a league in your town. Whatever you do, keep it light hearted. Laugh it up and make great memories. When you get back to the office, you'll find your communication is much smoother and free flowing. Chances are, the ideas will also flow more freely and productivity will increase with ease.

2. Offer to help

When you notice a co-worker struggling, don't sit back and watch. Throw yourself in the pit with them. Offer to help in any way you can. Even if you know that it's their problem and there's probably nothing you can do, making the offer typically provides some sort of comfort for the person who is struggling. If nothing else, they know that you've noticed. They know they aren't alone. And if there is something you can do, do it. Don't make a big deal about it. Most likely, the next time you're struggling, that person will be the first one knocking at your door. And that's what team work is all about.

3. Share what you do

I'm a big believer in understanding exactly what everyone in the office is doing. If you don't have a written job description, put one together yourself. Make it detailed. Everyone in the office should do this. Then, make copies and pass them around. If you have a very clear sense of what everyone does, you gain appreciation for them. There's nothing like animosity sparked by one person who thinks another isn't carrying their weight. If everyone shares what they are doing, everyone knows and there's no secrets. Sure, some people will inevitably not do their "fair share", but that becomes clear when looking at the descriptions. Maybe then it's a good time to address shifting responsibilities from someone who is overwhelmed with duties to someone who is reading their favorite blog all day.

4. Make group decisions

Gathering input from the whole group is a great way of saying that you respect each individual's opinion. Attempt to come to a consensus, but even if none can be reached people usually still feel better when they know they've been heard and their opinion was at least taken into consideration. I'm not talking about every decision at the company. I'm talking about anything - even small things. Whenever we have a staff meeting and my boss offers to get lunch, I go around and ask everyone what they want to have. I try to choose something that will meet everyone's desires. It's not a big deal but it shows that I care about everyone's comfort and I'm not going to get hamburgers when a vegetarian in our office would prefer salads. Bigger decisions, regarding business strategy for example, may also benefit from group input. People in various positions throughout the company see day-to-day business through very different eyes. They offer unique perspectives that can be incredibly helpful in larger business decisions.

5. Hold regular group meetings

Group meetings help to get (and keep) everyone on the same page. Spend this time re-establishing goals, evaluating progress and communicating about changes or ideas. I think a group meeting is appropriate at minimum once a month. Depending on the amount of change that is happening within the group, I would say even once a week could be helpful. If a business is rapidly growing, for example, and procedures are changing quickly to keep pace, meeting often is a way of communicating clearly and keeping everyone informed. It is also a good way to control rumors and speculation.

6. Wear out the carpet

I've said it before and I'll say it again: wear out the carpet! Talk to your co-workers. Visit them in their office down the hall, invite them over to yours for some M&M's and a cup of coffee. Talk, talk, talk. Face-to-face communication is essential for any team. Don't fall into the e-mail trap. Why send an email to someone 6 feet away? Ok, if you need it in writing, go ahead. But it just isn't necessary for the little things. And face-to-face communication is so much more interesting.

7. Set group goals

Individual goals are fine but setting a group goal helps everyone combine their efforts for the common good. You've heard the saying, "the whole is more than the sum of its parts". That's because together, more is possible. Set that group mentality for success. People don't like letting down their team. For many, individual goals can be less motivating because, if you fail, you only let down yourself. In a group you've got others depending on you to pull your weight. It can be a very powerful motivator.

8. Give group rewards

Share victory! Spread it around like a rash. Success is sweet and everyone should feel its glory. Nothing brings people together quite like a shared goal resulting in a shared achievement. Small "rewards" are a nice way of congratulating the group. At my last job, we (collectively) hit a record sales goal one month and our manager had shirts made for everyone saying "Best Month Ever!". We all wore them that Friday and had a group photo taken. Ok, kind of cheesy. But it brings people together.

9. Take group classes, seminars and workshops

Learning and improving your skills together is a great way to encourage team growth. It makes people feel respected to know that their development (both professional and personal) is supported by others. There are wonderful group classes aimed specifically at team building and group communications. Gather the group together for some off-site training like the classes offered by Franklin Covey.

10. Avoid "ganging up" on one individual

The entire group dynamic can be run quickly off course if one individual or a small group of individuals is ostracized or treated negatively by the rest of the group. Way too often, little cliques develop within the workplace and rivalries form. This can bring group productivity and group communication to a screeching halt. Don't let yourself take part in this sort of childish behavior. And if you see your co-workers doing it, encourage them to stop. If you feel the situation is out of your bounds, bring it to the attention of a superior. Sure, a little workplace "drama" is to be expected. But bullying is a different story. If you let one person or a group of people get shut out of the group, the whole team will suffer.

Whether you work with one other person or a group of a hundred, the team dynamic is a very important and delicate part of your success. Important because working well together is truly essential for achieving your goals. Delicate because there is a very precise balance that must be struck for groups of people to interact and be productive on a regular basis together. Mixing different personalities (and egos) can be a serious task. It takes effort to keep the group functioning at optimal levels and focused on the same goals. Rarely does it "just happen" without someone taking the lead. Here are some tips for building your team. No matter what the size, the basic rules are typically the same. If you're able to "take the lead" in your office, go for it. If you have an office manager or someone else who would be a more appropriate leader, forward them the link to this post. But you'll also find that you can implement many of these tips yourself, just by making the smallest effort.