According to a study by Stanford University, teams that work well together are 50% more productive. In much simpler words, excellent teamwork gives excellent results.

Companies try every day to make their employees work together and collaborate with each other. But the ones who have tried know that this is no simple feat.

There are even cases where companies have not yet understood how big of a role teamwork plays in employee engagement and in creating a collaborative work environment. No matter which category you fall into, this article will prove to be insightful.

Let us explore the concept of teamwork as a competency better and how it plays into the organizational dynamics. 

So, what do we mean when we say organizational competencies?

In simple words, we can say that these are the set of skills and behavioral traits that an organization wishes to have or develop in their employees, which would ultimately enable them to reach their objectives and goals.

When a company makes a list or framework of such competencies, it makes things much easier for the employees because they now know the kind of skills they have to develop to get ahead in the organization.

It makes the expectations clear, analyzing the skill gaps in their employees. By doing so, they can identify which areas the company is falling behind and what skills are to be developed to get ahead of the competition.

It has a direct connection to employee engagement as well because listing out organizational competencies and formulating a model allows employees to work in the right direction with a clear understanding of what is expected from them.

Through proper training and development, a company can mold its employees into leaders and specialists.

Although the competencies a company sees as valuable depending on their individual preferences and goals, there are some common ones that all companies see as valuable. One such competency is ‘teamwork’. 

Teamwork is a crucial management skill for success and a happy workplace. Teamwork is about achieving goals together.

In a fast-paced, networked corporate environment, employee collaboration can affect company performance and success. Teamwork requires synergy between people with varied talents, experiences, and perspectives.

This variation can help a good team generate new ideas, solve difficult challenges, and adapt faster. 

• Teamwork generates more innovative ideas and solutions, helping the firm solve challenges and seize opportunities.
• Teamwork stimulates collaboration and encourages people to exploit one another's talents and compensate for their weaknesses.

Encouragement to help others can make employees feel accountable for individual and team achievement. This atmosphere of collaboration makes employees happier and more productive, improving their mood and productivity.

Companies also want team players. Today's commercial environment requires cross-departmental collaboration. Therefore, people who work well together are in demand. Hiring collaborative employees makes a firm more competitive and adaptable to market changes.

Teamwork is a really broad term. There can be many aspects to it, and it can mean different things to different people. So let us look at some examples of teamwork (skills, to be more specific) that make it an excellent competency to have in an organization: 

1. Resolution of conflicts

When people work in groups, there are chances for conflicts to occur every now and then. This can be especially true when it comes to newly formed teams or teams with people from different backgrounds.

In such cases, the ability to resolve conflicts comes in handy. Employees who can listen carefully to every party involved in a conflict and then come up with a solution that works for all can be a great asset to a team. 

2. Proper communication

A team functions based on the kind of information it receives and shares. For instance, if one team member does the first half of the project, it must be communicated properly to the rest of the members to avoid overlap.

Communication can be indeed considered the lifeblood of a successful team. If one step goes wrong, the whole team can collapse like a house of cards. 

3. Planning skills

Teamwork differs from working individually, where the main difference lies in the division of work. There will be a timeline for the completion of the project as well.

An employee with good planning skills analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of all the members and divides the project accordingly. This is further divided into milestones, which make sure that the project is completed in the given timeline.

See how planning is an important skill to have?

4. Respectfulness

A team includes individuals from different backgrounds and departments. When we deal with such large varieties of people, remaining respectful of their differences and opinions is crucial.

In a diverse team, people have different points of view. Employees with the ability to respect others' opinions no matter how polar opposite they are to their personal beliefs make it easy for the team to function efficiently.

5. Reliability

Team members have to be reliable. If not, there won't be trust in the team, which will make things pretty difficult. Just think of a team where no one trusts each other. How would things progress?

Employees must be reliable so that the team members come to them with doubts and clarifications, which ultimately makes the outcome of the project ten times easier. If not, the project might take a longer time to complete because the timelines might get jumbled up, and the flow of communication might be hindered. It also creates an unhealthy environment to work. 

6. Tolerance

Being tolerant and polite go hand in hand. Keep an open mind and want to learn. The interesting things about life on Earth are the people of different races, religions, and tribes.

Once more, you don't have to agree with everyone. But take in as much variety as you can, and then make up your mind. A lot of people have the wrong idea about certain things.

7. Persuasion skills 

Employees who know how to persuade their team members to work coherently are truly superstars. Persuasion is a skill that can be developed and comes in handy when you work as a team.

There can be different opinions that take root while having a group discussion and heeding every opinion might only delay the project completion date.

Here, if any team member possesses the skill of persuasion, they will be able to direct the rest of the team to unanimously agree on a point and go on from there.

8. Making the right decisions

It may seem easy to make decisions. Also true when everyone agrees on what to do. However, when individuals have diverse opinions, you must make a decision that not everyone loves.

Great team players can see the larger picture, put their feelings aside, and work together to succeed.

Although teamwork does wonders for your productivity levels and workplace environment, it is not without problems. Here are some of the common issues that might come up when employees are put together as a team:

1. Interpersonal issues

Different likes and personalities might generate workplace conflict. This may reduce confidence or hinder collaboration. Consider your work culture and current employees while hiring. This reduces personality issues. When two employees disagree, you can change their roles to reduce their collaboration or provide mediation.

2. Lack of trust

Building trust among coworkers helps teams work. When teammates trust each other to ask for or offer aid, problems are solved faster and better. Work and personal ties often boost confidence. Team-building activities can help your staff bond and operate better together.

If there is a lack of trust among the team members, which could arise due to a multitude of reasons, there would be a gradual decrease in the synergy and cohesion of the team. All of these tiny elements drag the teamwork down, so building trust among team members is really important. 

3. Unequal participation

Employees who like their employment work better. Being involved in your profession keeps you focused and excited, which can boost your productivity. When a worker loses interest, the team may perform poorly.

Management may emphasize the importance of work and provide the tools needed to execute it successfully. Showing outcomes can help employees value their labor.

Understanding the level of teamwork competency within an organization is crucial for fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. Here’s how leaders can effectively measure these competencies:

1. Conduct 360-degree feedback surveys‍

Conduct 360 assessments to gather insights on teamwork dynamics from various perspectives within the organization. Adopt a survey platform to streamline the process of collecting and organizing feedback into visually appeasing and representative data.

For example, ThriveSparrow helps both managers and employees go beyond surface-level scores and unlocks personalized talent maps for each employee from the 360-degree feedback results collected through its surveys.

Competency summaries helps leaders bridge skill gaps and build personal development plans for each of them.

2. Observe team interactions

Pay attention to how team members communicate, collaborate on projects, and resolve conflicts during meetings or day-to-day activities.

3. Set clear teamwork goals and metrics‍

Define specific, measurable objectives for teams to achieve together, and track their progress over time.

4. Evaluate project outcomes

Assess the success of projects and tasks completed by teams, looking at both the results and the collaborative processes used to achieve them.

Incorporating ThriveSparrow into this process can significantly streamline and enhance the assessment of teamwork competencies.

ThriveSparrow’s advanced survey and feedback tools are designed to facilitate a deep understanding of team dynamics, identifying areas of strength and opportunities for growth. By leveraging ThriveSparrow, organizations can:

• ‍Create customized surveys: Tailor surveys specifically designed to assess teamwork, including aspects such as communication, reliability, and conflict resolution.‍
• Analyze feedback with advanced analytics: Utilize ThriveSparrow’s analytics features to dive deep into survey responses, uncovering valuable insights into team performance and cohesion.‍
• Identify skill gaps: Pinpoint specific areas where teams may need additional support or training to enhance their collaborative efforts.‍
• Foster continuous improvement: Regularly assess teamwork competencies and track progress over time with ThriveSparrow, ensuring ongoing development and enhancement of team dynamics.

By integrating ThriveSparrow into your strategy for assessing teamwork competencies, you’re not just measuring team performance; you’re laying the groundwork for a culture of continuous improvement and collaborative success.

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Teamwork is Dreamwork

A workplace where teams are able to function efficiently is surely a healthy one.

Teamwork is like a litmus test you can do to check if your work environment is a good one or not.

To comprehensively assess teamwork in your organization, start by conducting employee surveys. It gives you an opportunity to gather reliable and relevant insights on the thoughts and preferences of your employees.

ThriveSparrow can help you create custom surveys that allow you to collect relevant employee feedback so that you know where your employees stand when it comes to teamwork.