Discord in teams is a recipe for disaster. It means less productivity, more conflict, and a horrible time for everyone involved. If you’re managing a team, you need to minimize discord as much as possible. And you need to create an atmosphere of cooperation.
Today, we’ll help you with that. We’ve got 5 rules on how to approach team building. Use them as a guideline for any team activities you plan!
1. Setup a Proper Communication Channel
Meetings are a part of any team’s schedule. But the question is – when and how do you set up those meetings? What channels does your team use to communicate? Do you do meetings live? Or are they done through e-conferencing? Also, is there a special “online room” for team members to talk? And if so, how often do you communicate there?
Tip: Use Them All.
Don’t communicate exclusively through one channel. Setup multiples, and schedule each. For example, you need live meetings. You need to convene and talk about progress in your projects and activities. But you also need online communication – which is comfortable for members who need space to think. Scheduling is also important. Make your meetings predictable so that members can prepare something valuable to contribute!
And speaking of contributions…
2. Give Credit Where It’s Due
Be objective. If a member is contributing well, give them a reward. Make them feel appreciated. And there are many ways to reward a member. Some enjoy public praise. Others see more responsibilities (a promotion) as a good reward. Find what works for each individual – then give out the appropriate rewards!
What About Bad Performance?
This is something to deal with subtly. You shouldn’t punish a team member for errors (unless it’s grave, or done with malicious intent). You see, punishing has many flaws. It creates resentment, plus feelings of inadequacy and failure. You essentially end up with apathetic team members and a sense of hopelessness. They won’t perform well, nor will they bother. Instead, go for an approach that corrects mistakes. Give your team members feedback, and the tools to perform better!
3. Don’t Forget the Fun
You don’t want to create a serious atmosphere all the time. Relations between your team members should be slightly relaxed. You want a team that feels friendly and trusted. For that reason – you should organize a few fun group activities!
Any Ideas?
There are multiples actually. You can organize recreational hangouts. You can head to any place you can think of, from a bowling alley, to a theme park! Or, you can do something a little private. You can organize an online gaming session! There are many ideas to explore. But the point is, they’ve got to be fun. And, they’ve got to be frequent!
4. Help Your Team’s Development
Some team members have strengths and weaknesses that they need to work on. As for their strengths, give them responsibilities that speak to their abilities. They’ll feel confident performing, with minimal stress and excellent results. And for weaknesses, provide tools or assistance for correction.
Preach Specialization.
Hand out responsibilities in accordance to what each member can do. Don’t try to force perfection on all of your teammates. That’s a recipe for disaster. And you force a set of standards that they can’t live up to.
5. Turn Your Team Into a Family
Whether you work in a professional environment or not – teams should be like family. After all, many teams work side-by-side for years. So it’s best to foster relations of trust and amiability. So encourage your team to expand beyond the work environment, and into the personal sphere (check the 3rd tip)!
