BENEFITS OF TEAM WORKING

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Fosters Creativity and Learning

 

Creativity thrives when people work together in a team.  Brainstorming ideas as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of working solo.  What you have learned from your individual experience is entirely different from your co-workers.  Hearing the unique perspectives of team members sparks the imagination of their colleagues.  Collaborating on a project, and learning from each other, creates an enthusiasm for learning that solitary work usually lacks. 

 

Blends Complementary Strengths

 

Working together lets employees build on the talents of their teammates.  While your strength may be creative thinking, a co-worker might shine in organisation and planning.  Often, a team works well together because team members can rely on each other to bring individual talents to the table.  Also, every time you see your co-workers utilise a different approach or way of thinking, you have a chance to adjust or improve your own working methods.

 

Builds Trust

 

People working in teams necessitates drawing on each other’s abilities.  They find common perspectives and different perspectives.  In doing so, they will build bonds and trust with their co-workers.  Despite occasional disagreements, team members will generally enjoy working together for the benefits it brings, including the feeling of social acceptance.  Trusting your teammates provides a feeling of safety that allows ideas to emerge.  It helps employees open up and encourage each other.  Great teams build each other up and strengthen individual members to create a cohesive group.  By working together, employees learn that wins and losses affect both the team and everyone on it.

 

Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills

 

Conflicts inevitably happen when you pull together a team of unique people.  Employees come from varied backgrounds and have different work styles and habits.  While these unique viewpoints create the most successful work, they can also generate irritation and resentment that can turn into conflict.  In teamwork situations, people are forced to resolve the conflicts between them.  Learning conflict resolution first hand is a skill that employees can use to become more effective managers and improve problem-solving. 

 

Promotes a Wider Sense of Ownership

 

Team projects encourage employees to feel proud of their contributions.  Tackling obstacles and creating notable work together makes team members feel fulfilled.  Working toward company goals allows employees to feel connected to the company.  This builds loyalty, leading to a higher level of job satisfaction among employees.  Employees that connect directly with their workplace are more likely to stay with the company.  Employees leaving their jobs often state that their work contributions were not valued or appreciated.  

 

Encourages Healthy Risk-Taking

 

Working as a team allows team members to take more risks, as they have the support of the entire group to fall back on in case of difficulties or failure.  By comparison, an employee working on a project alone will be more reluctant to stick their neck out for an off-the-wall idea.  If the project fails when working solo, that employee takes the full brunt of the blame.  Once a team succeeds together, their ability to explore ideas is strengthened.  Teamwork allows employees the freedom to think outside the box.  In many cases, the riskiest idea turns out to be the best idea.