by Lieutenany Colonel Anil Kumar Nigam

Essence of Teamwork Essence of Team work

What is Teamwork?
Larger, ambitious goals requiring unique tailor made approaches usually require that people work together with other people in a team and not as individual.

Companies today want people who are team player, people who are able to get along with their colleagues and work together in a cohesive group to achieve the organizational targets sacrificing their own personal interests at times. Such people are hard to find.

Prerequisites for Teamwork
1. Common and well-defined Goal
2. A team Leader (not a boss)

Causes of failures

Examination quickly reveals that under-performance derives, not from ineffective policies or individual incompetence, but from the interactions among the staff, i.e. process rather than performance. This factor, often referred to as group dynamics, needs to be understood and utilized if an organization is to achieve its full potential for effectiveness.

Skills Needed For Teamwork

1.Listening
It is important to listen to other people's ideas. When people are allow to freely express their ideas, these initial ideas will produce other ideas. Ideally you should follow 80/20 rule.

2. Questioning
It is important to ask questions, interact, and discuss the objectives of the team and also the plan for execution.

3. Persuading
Individuals are encouraged to exchange, defend, and then to ultimately rethink their ideas and come to mutually agreed solution if possible.

4. Helping
It is crucial to help one's coworkers, which is the general theme of teamwork. Use of proactive approach will be better.

5. Respecting
It is important to treat others with respect and to support their ideas.

6. Sharing
It is important to share with the team to create an environment of teamwork.

7. Participating
All members of the team are encouraged to participate in the team and to have a say if possible.

Establishing the norms for effective teamwork
1. A shift in partnership to ownership
Instilling a sense of belonging.
An important shift in focus: Our common goal
2. Faith in each other (to be established by actions and not by talks)
Clarity & simplicity in communication

A team, not a collection of individuals, results in

1. Faster decision-making
2. Working explicitly toward a common goal
3. Better communication skills
4. Effective communication plan
5. Focused on solutions not setbacks
6. Increased trust and productivity
7. Re-energized atmosphere

Team Leader and his role

1. First and foremost rule.
Leader has to lead by setting personal examples and not only talk about it. Says we and us and not I and my (mean it)
2. Has to sacrifice at times in overall interest of the Team.
3. Last but not the Least

Team Leader has to keep morale of the team very high always and every time
Relationships are Key for Successful Team work

About the Author
Author has 28 years of experience in the field of Telecommunications. He is M.Sc(Physics) and has M. Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He has worked in different capacities including Signal corps Indian Army, Regional Manager of one of leading Telecom company. Currently he is Associate Professor with Institute of Technology and Management at Gurgaon, Haryana, India which is rated as the best Engineering colleges of North India