teamwork

No matter who you’re rooting for, we can all agree there is a lot to be learnt from the World Cup. But who knew that it could be such an accurate analogy for achieving your team targets? When you break down its meaning, teamwork simply refers to the process of working together to achieve a common goal. Whether that goal is in the net or is your current business objective, reaching that desired destination requires a united team willing to communicate and put in the work.

Why is teamwork effective?

As the saying goes “Two heads are better than one” and in most cases, the quality of work produced as a team is far greater than that of a singular person, thus becoming the primary benefit of collaborative work. This is mainly down to a group’s ability to leverage each other’s skills and capabilities, allowing them to create stronger outcomes by utilising team synergy. Just like football has a goalkeeper, defender, and attacker- your workforce will also have its own variety of unique skillsets, so its best to assign duties which will compliment each person’s abilities. Where one person might exhibit a strength, it may be another’s weakness, and so by working together they are able to mutually compensate and play to each other’s strengths. This creates better consistency, fewer flaws, as well as a more balanced performance.

Secondly, a shared vision creates drive – nothing stands in the way of a passionate team working towards one goal. Not only does a team make tackling any task much easier, but it also creates a supportive work environment and a stronger fellowship.

And finally, every great football team undergoes regular group training; improving upon each other’s abilities and techniques. With every team comes a multitude of different knowledge and skillsets – making it the perfect environment for mutual learning. Discover different perspectives, new techniques, and gain insight from your fellow team members – make the most of each other’s abilities and trade knowledge! You may be surprised to find how many new things you can pick up from your colleagues.

What makes good teamwork?

While working as a team has the potential for higher productivity and better progress, it can also be tricky when not executed well. It’s not all about having good ‘players’, it’s how they are used and how well they are able to work together. Achieving harmony and striking a balance is imperative when it comes to achieving your collective goals, so what are the most important elements that make up a tight unit?

• Trust – The best starting point is always trust; without which it is difficult to come together and put your faith in your team members. Take the time to know your colleagues, not just their skillsets, but also their personality and ways of working. Once you know each other better the trust will naturally develop, and you can begin to collaborate more efficiently. If you feel your team could use more time getting to know each other or you work remotely, consider holding regular team meetings or video calls.
• Communication – You may be surprised to learn that there is a lot of planning and discussion that comes before a football match. This ensures that strategies and tactics are understood by each player while strengthening the communication between the team. While there is strength in numbers, groups can easily get chaotic without the use of proper communication. To combat this, make sure to provide ample opportunities for every individual voice to be heard. Check in with one another on a regular basis, create written agendas and keep each other updated on your progress. Be sure to establish clear goals and regularly review your collective progress.
• Designated roles – To work efficiently as a team, it is essential for each member to have individual responsibilities; it is much quicker to reach your common goal when the workloads are distributed effectively. Just like a football team has individual positions allowing them to play as one tight unit, allocating roles and leaderships will act the same for a business while making sure you cover all bases. So, make the most of each other’s unique skillsets and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

As you can see, there are some striking and unexpected similarities between business and football, and so it leaves a lot to be learned from this year’s world cup. We hope you found this blog insightful, should you require any additional support or have any other queries, our team would love to help. Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com