A team can be described as a group of people with different skills and tasks that work together towards a common project, service, or goal, through interconnecting functions and mutual support. Producing top-performing teams is every company’s wish. But successfully guiding and assigning work is just the tip of the ice burg.
Personal growth not only provides benefits for that individual but to the entire business. As leaders, we need to distinguish the inimitable strengths and weaknesses of each team member to optimize them. This is the first step and is the only way we can see each person’s growth as a benefit for the team.
Research done by the Gallup Organization’s State of the American Workplace found that building on employee strengths is vastly effective in raising performance. Gallup also found that when employees become aware of their strengths, they become 7.8 percent more productive and teams that focus on the growth of each team member have a 12.5 percent chance of greater productivity. This will result in individuals finding more balance and fulfilment in their lives.
When people work together in a team, it nurtures creativity and learning. Personal growth among team members should lead to shared knowledge and the development of new skills. Employees will spread those new ideas and it will result in brainstorming, which avoids stale vantage points that often erupt from working solo. When team members’ unique perspectives are combined, each team member creates more effective solutions. Collaborating on a project and identifying areas of growth creates enthusiasm for learning that solitary work usually lacks.
When team members grow, they bring perspectives, knowledge and skills that they share with the rest of their company. But most importantly, they add new energy that revitalizes the entire team. Growth causes employees to feel freshly enthused about their work. This is very infectious and will breathe fresh life into the whole team. Teamwork balances harmonizing strengths and causes employees to build on the talents of their teammates. While one employee may shine in organizing and planning, another may excel in creative thinking. Leaders should constantly encourage the sharing of abilities within the team. By observing the process behind the continuous sharing of skills, you can become a stronger team by adjusting and improving your methods.
Depending on people builds trust, but at the same time, occasional disagreements are normal. When you are bonding and trying to establish the foundation of a relationship, there will be minor conflicts. Trust provides a sensation of safety, which fastens the development of idea production. Without trust, a team won’t be able to function, since open communication is key. It helps employees to open up and encourage each other. Great teams build each other up and strengthen and foster growth which creates a cohesive group.
Cooperation in a team results in the learning of conflict resolution skills. When employees grow, they begin learning to resolve conflicts by themselves, instead of turning to management. These skills can be used in their personal lives and can result in them becoming efficient managers down the road.
This development boosts confidence and will eventually build the relationship between employees and clients. When a customer is confident in your employees and business, they are more likely to continuously use your service or product and increase the likelihood of a client recommendation due to the positive experience. This results in the benefit of the entire company.
