Creating an inspired, motivated, and more importantly; productive team is an easier task than you would expect. You simply need to use the right techniques and teamwork tips.
1. Build cohesion with a team activity.
For newly formed teams, such as those created 'on the job' in proffessional services firms, need to be bonded right from the start. Teams need to bond instantly if you want them to get a short job done FAST.
Tips for building cohesion
- Plan a team bonding activity. This needn't be expensive, and it needn't be lengthy. Take a lunch out together as a team, and just having a chance to chat without the distraction of work will accelarate relationships between them.
- Start the job with a full-team meeting. Make sure it's conversational than formal, and give even the newbies chance to put their ideas forward. It should be short and sweet, and simply cover work allocation, opportunities for various members to increase their skill set, and some challenges that you can identify up front and ask your team to have in mind before they start. (E.g, this client isn't very forthcoming with infomation, so make sure you put your infomation requests in nice and early.)
2. You team needs to communicate properly.
Tips for improving communication
- Make sure your team works in the same workspace. Where appropriate, they should work off the same table or cluster of desks. So much time is wasted by junior staff not being able to ask their seniors the right questions early enough. If your entire team sits in the same area, then your juniors should have no excuse for not ploughing on with their work.
- Make sure all your team members switch mobile phone numbers upfront. If you want to save time, compile a mini list yourself, print out and hand out at your first meeting. You may not think your team mates will have to phone each other, but it's vital you have this free flow of communication for if (god forbid) something goes wrong, such as an employee not being able to come into work.
- Make sure you personally make sure you have time for all your collegues if they have any questions or queries. A proper FULL explanation now is far more efficient than having to answer numerous bitty follow-up questions. But efficiency aside; as the team leader you need to be setting the tone for the mini-culture of the group. If you allow your subordinates or team mates to ask you whatever they need to know, and you give them comphrehensive and well researched answers - you're encouraging them to treat communication with the same thoroughness too. This will boost the communication skills of the team in no time!
3. Have fun!
The real secret to a productive team, is to ensure that the team enjoys being with one another. With long projects, sometimes it can feel like you're living with your team - so it's essential that you can have a good time with each other. Always display a good sense of humour, have patience and be understanding of the pressures upon your team mates. Keep the mood light - even when the deadline is looming. It's your responsibility as the leadership of the team.
So there you have it. 3 Essential things you need to be doing to turn your lazy co-workers into motivated workers. You have plenty of tips for each. So start working on them!
