Here at Workspace we have a wonderful team and that’s what allows us to deliver great creative projects for our clients. We believe it’s absolutely vital for any organisation to value and nurture their team and so we’re sharing our Top 7 Tips for Building A Great Team with you. You’re welcome!

1. Have absolute belief in the power of teamwork

There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’ as the saying goes and the reason it’s a well-worn phrase is because it’s true. For teamwork to truly make the dream work, it helps if everyone genuinely believes in his or her part of making the team a success. If leaders and managers can make it clear that they believe in teamwork by taking care of each of the following six tips then this will help everyone – from the intern to the CEO – value their own input in any project.

2. Find out what people are best at and put them in a position where they can contribute the most

The easiest way to do this is to get to know people! Find out what they like and don’t like, both at work and outside of it, and ask them what they most enjoy about their role. Look at the work they do and how they do it – is there an area of their job in which they are particularly strong? What are they not so hot at?

There are lots of resources out there for personal development – behavioural indicators, personality tests, skills assessments – and these can be a good way for team members – and leaders – to gain a real insight into their strengths. If everyone in the team carries out one of these tests, your organisation can find out where there are gaps and take steps to build depth into the team.

Don’t be afraid to change the scope of people’s roles within your organisation. Sure, they might have been employed to do one job, but if they show real passion and skill for another area of the business, it makes sense to let them take on a new challenge. If it’s good for them, it’s most likely good for business, too.

Make sure they have everything they need to do their job properly, too, whether that’s the right tools, the right support or the time they need to get it done.

3. Coach each member regularly

People change. What was working for them six months ago might not be working for them now. If you spend time encouraging and nurturing your team members, you will reap the rewards. Studies show that it isn’t always money that motivates people in the workplace – more often than not it’s simply feeling appreciated. An important part of that is providing valuable and genuine feedback on each person’s performance. Demonstrate that you see what they are doing and you value their contribution. If things need to change, be honest and open about it and show them how you expect them to change and when. Check in regularly to make sure it’s happening.

4. Allow each team member to own their role

Give your team the freedom, wherever possible, to make their own decisions – and even their own mistakes. As with everything in life, we learn some of the most important lessons when things don’t go according to plan. Of course safety always has to come first, but when there’s no great risk attached it’s a good idea to let people figure things out for themselves. Be there to support them and help them make improvements and changes to ensure the mistakes aren’t repeated. Give each team member the power to make decisions, too. Control over their contribution to the organisation will make your team happier and more confident in their own abilities, helping them seek out ways to improve the business. Win!

5. Make decisions based on input from all team members

Yes, even the ones that would traditionally be made solely by those at the top of the tree. Sure, not everything can be decided by committee, but that’s no reason not to seek out opinions and input from your team. There are always multiple ways to look at a situation whether it’s an opportunity or a difficulty, and they might seem something that you have missed. Which leads us neatly on to number 6…

6. If you’re a leader, recognise that you don’t always know best

Recognise and believe that your staff know a lot more than you do about many aspects of the business. They are doing their job every day while you’re doing yours. Ask them what they think is working and what isn’t. Is there something simple that could improve efficiency or effectiveness? Is something they use to do their job no longer working properly? Are there steps that could be removed from the processes they do every day? What you have planned on paper might not be the same in reality, so accept that you don’t always know best. Use your team’s insights to build success.

7. Reward, recognise and celebrate success

You’ve implemented all of these tips and the organisation is booming. Great! Time to recognise the contributions of your team. Be specific. What is it exactly that they’ve done to bring success to the business? Tell everyone! Reward them – and get creative! Could be a day off, an early finish. Perhaps a meal out on you, or an extra day off. Maybe they’d love some posh coffee, or an impromptu barbeque. Rent a nice car for the week. Most of all, say thank you. And be consistent. Once everyone sees that their efforts will be recognised, valued and appreciated, they’ll keep doing what they do best.
Let us know how these tips work for you!