For decades, businesses have hired individuals based on their skills alone, without regard for their ability to thrive in a team environment. With the changes technology has brought to the workplace, management has recognized the need for a new dynamic. Teams are a perfect way for companies to leverage the varied talents employees possess by blending them into a robust workforce. Here, Sean Goodnight explores the benefits of working in a team environment.
Rugged individualism can be a desired characteristic when people must work remotely by themselves with limited interaction with their organization. But more often than not, working on a team is more productive, efficient, and fun. Collaboration and interdependency at some level are nearly always a good thing.
Most everyone had had an experience, at some time in their life, when they had an idea, and they took off implementing it without a second thought. As a kid, it may have resulted in skinned knees at the bottom of a hill. It can mean a failed program, a low annual evaluation report, or worse as an adult.
A workplace team environment can guarantee that you don’t crash and burn because you overlooked aspects of your objective or assignment. It all comes down to two heads (or more) being better than one.
For employers, the benefits include more consistent results across the entire team and better-developed employees. They learn from each other, share ideas, and raise the intellectual level of the whole group.
Working in a team environment can help lessen employee’s stress since the load and responsibility are shared. There are people to fall back on if you get sick or need to take emergency time off.
Additionally, on the job training increases exponentially as you learn from each of your teammates and they learn from you. It is common for employees to go to their boss to ask questions, but if they are always busy, employees might stop asking and try to figure things out on their own, which can lead to mistakes and wasted time. Having a dedicated mentor on your team can ensure that people feel safe to ask questions and clarify assignments and that there is someone available to help them at all times.
Can the idea of team collaboration be taken too far? Certainly. Many companies are learning that the open office space configuration they once thought would improve teamwork across their organization does just the opposite. They have learned that people need some level of privacy. Employees are much more willing to collaborate as a team if provided with alone time and space.
Employers should design office spaces and work environments that provide needed privacy and yet allow for team collaboration. A culture that promotes working together while recognizing individual effort will make it comfortable for teammates to work together and not compete with each other.
Employees must learn to work toward a common goal and set their inherent desire for competition aside. Everyone will benefit and have less stress along the way.
About Sean Goodnight
Sean Goodnight is a proud husband and father and a firm believer in family values. Born and raised in Colorado, he graduated from Englewood High School and went to the University of Northern Colorado. Sean Goodnight’s definition of success includes two aspects – family and professional life. He aims to provide security to his family and the clients that depend on him. He does that by consistently making sound choices and building relationships based on trust, honesty, and respect.
