ARTICLES
Teamwork and synergy: Key to achieving more - Times Of India - Sat, 19 Apr 2008
Ian Faria has some simple tips to be a better team player and get more out of colleagues at the workplace.
The victories in the 20-twenty World Cup and the tri series in Australia are clear examples of the new synergy that the young Indian team enjoys. Professional coaches have known of the power of a team and are committed towards one goal, and one vision, and the need to keep the focus on what's best for the team, as opposed to the individual. This power is loosely called 'team work', but it brings to the fore a powerful phenomenon called 'synergy'.
Does teamwork only apply to games and sports? Or, does it also apply to the corporate world too? Teamwork applies everywhere. None of us is as smart as all of us. Relationships are the foundations that build stronger teams.
Here are some ways to be a better team player:
Belonging
We work best when we feel we are an intrinsic part of the team. We should know that we belong there. If we feel unwanted, we can never give the best to the team. However, if we feel wanted, we are naturally motivated to do more.
Trust
Every member in the team should feel that he can trust the other members of the team. Trust is like an insurance policy. Just knowing it is there, helps us feel we have a safety net, even when things are not going right. If we have to look over our shoulder to see what is happening behind us, we will not make too much progress.
Respect
Showing respect is a great way to build a relationship. It is also a great way to build a healthy bond in a team. Just as we like to be respected, others like to be respected too. You can develop this skill by first respecting your family members.
Communication
Most of the problems we see in teams today stem from the fact that people have stopped expressing themselves. This gives rise to speculation and misunderstanding. Speaking about things that trouble us is a good approach to sort out matters, and to strengthen the bonds that exist. Man is a social animal, and if he does not communicate, he may build negative energy, and this will slowly but surely erode the other person's confidence and energy.
Courtesy
Good team players understand that they should do whatever they can to build up individual members in the team. Using common courtesies like please and thank you never hurt anyone, but not using these words makes us feel less human, and more mechanical in our approach to connect with others.
Praise
Praising people is a great way to make them think positively and achieve more. Praising is another way to boost people's self esteem, and consequently to make a difference.
We are network-oriented entities, and the more we connect, the better we will relate to each other, and the more we can achieve for ourselves.
Ian Faria. (The author is a corporate trainer, motivational speaker, counselor and consultant who specializes in Organizational and Personal Enhancement). faria@a-pep.com
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