How to Create a Team Environment in the Workplace with Training

Employees can be taught to work together as a team with proper training.

There are many benefits to creating a team environment in the workplace. Teams can often accomplish tasks that may not have been otherwise completed. An effective team mentality also improves motivation and job satisfaction, which increase productivity, innovation and retention. Teams can also improve coordination between workers and enhance the decision-making process. With proper preparation and training, you can create a team environment within your workplace.

Instructions

1. Analyze your work group to determine whether it is organized as a team. Managers often make the mistake of assuming they can induce a group of people working within the same workspace to work together as a team. The existence of a common goal is the hallmark of a team. Without a common goal, there is no team.

2. Train organizational leaders on the development of teams. Leaders cannot tell employees to work as a team and then expect it to just happen on its own. Managers and supervisors must be properly trained on the creation of teams before they may can contribute to a team environment in the workplace. Organizational leaders must learn to identify workplace issues around which individual teams can be formed. They must also understand when teams are necessary.

3. Assess individual employee attitudes and communications styles. Team training initiatives often incorporate personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to help workers understand their own personalities as well as how best to interact with their co-workers. Group assessments commonly integrate individual scores to compile a group composite, which acts as a starting point for ongoing team training. Additional assessment methods, like the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument provide scientific data to determine specific causes of conflict in the workplace.

4. Determine whether you may conduct training within the organization or if outside help is necessary. Analyze the results of the assessments you conducted to determine the size and scope of the problem. If there are no widespread communication issues, you may be able to create a team environment using simple team-building exercises. However, if your organization suffers from widespread communication problems and is rife with conflict, it may be necessary to hire an outside consultant to implement team training.

5. Integrate teamwork exercises into team meetings. Team-building exercises may consist of a simple game or a challenging exercise designed to open the lines of communication and encourage workers to team up to achieve a common goal. As workers practice achieving small goals as a team, they learn the skills necessary to achieve large goals on the job.

6. Conduct on-site training courses. Courses may address a variety of team-specific issues such as managing conflict, goal setting and effective delegation techniques. Also encourage workers to attend individual training as part of your overall performance management program.

References

• "Kansas City Business Journal"; Teams in Workplace Can Provide the Edge Between Also-Ran, Champs; Quarterman Lee; November 2001
• Esther Derby Associates, Inc.; The 0th Trap of Teams; Esther Derby; February 2011
• Team Training Solutions: Take Steps Today to Improve Your Team Work
• Team Building USA: Team Building Exercises & Programs