Building Teamwork Into Your Corporate Culture

You have likely heard that "Teamwork" is the key that can unlock the productivity and create the positive culture you desire.

You have likely heard analogies like "the great redwood forest, which consists of trees that are upwards of 350 feet high, only exists because of the intertwining of the very shallow roots system" - and these trees that have survived for centuries have done so through the teamwork that your company needs to construct.

You have likely heard other many acronyms, analogies, and sales pitches that also trumpet the value and benefits of teamwork.

What you likely have NOT heard, though, is how exactly you can accomplish this legendary task that so many leadership experts have claimed is the oxygen that your corporate environment needs in order to flourish.

And yet, just as you marvel at a magician's impressive ability to make the rabbit appear from inside the hat and wonder how it was done, you likely have found yourself at times wondering how other companies create the rapport, trust, and morale that great teamwork inspires, while your people just don't seem to have been dusted with that same fairy dust.

The truth is that teamwork is not magic. It truly is an achievable and powerful tool that allows your people to accomplish far greater things through interdependent relationships than they ever will as lone-rangers or cliquish silos.

Like any great coach will tell you - success is simple, but never easy.

Leaders in most any field would agree that success is the result of simple things being done exceedingly well. It isn't knowing what to do that is difficult, but the actual doing, and paying attention to details, that separates the high achievers from the masses.

Building teamwork into your organization's culture is no different.

Some leaders will SAY that they want the benefits the a culture of teamwork offers, but never invest the time or resources into actually accomplishing what they know is important. That is like saying you want a bridge to get you from point A to point B, but never providing the materials or workers to actually build it!

Building teamwork into your corporate culture is a process that requires an investment of time and attention, but it will provide a tremendous return on your investment.

The process begins with your decision to do something.

All GREAT teams, whether overtly identified or not, have the following in common:

1. Goals and Gear
2. Rapport and Relationships
3. Expectations and Encouragement
4. Accountability and Adjustments
5. Toasts and Transfer

These steps are the HOW of building the teamwork you want. Once you have defined the goal, the most important and overlooked step in the process is the second step, which includes establishing quality rapport and relationships.

Without providing your people time and opportunity to recognize the strengths and needs of each of its members, your people will likely stumble through or struggle with the other more obvious steps that follow.

These steps are all part of a process that can be facilitated through engaging and enjoyable teambuilding activities- and these activities can each also aid in improving the communication of expectations and establishing the HOW of defining team roles and fostering peer accountability.

An experienced facilitator can navigate your people through situations and fun experiences that allow them to lead, to listen to, and to learn about each other.

The growth of your organization will come because of what you do to bring your people together far more than because of what strategy you choose.

What your organization does, and how well they do it, will be been tremendously influenced by the relationships and morale that develops through planned activities and events designed to create that shared vision and camaraderie you desire.

Building teamwork into your organization begins with acknowledging the need and taking action to address the issue by providing your people the opportunity to clarify their goals, to build relationships, to establish expectations, to hold each other accountable, and then to celebrate successes along the way.

If you are truly interested in your organization enjoy the benefits it provides, though, you must be willing to invest the time and resources required. It isn't magic, and there is no secret involved. You build teamwork into your organization by following this five part process.

It takes time to change a culture, but with dedication and a commitment to follow this path your organization will soon be pulling rabbits out of hats and enjoying the productivity, morale, and trust that great teamwork provides.

As an experienced coach, author, speaker, and team-building facilitator, Sean Glaze entertains, informs, and influences audiences with a unique blend of dynamic content, interactive activities, and practical action steps.