Teamwork Is A Word Frequently Used But Often Misunderstood

Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork… we hear it all the time. The notion being that if we work as a team we will somehow do better, achieve more and be more productive. We all understand the concept as it relates to sports; it takes an entire team, all members performing well to achieve the goal that is winning. Each person knows his role and if performed well the team wins. So, how does this concept apply to a work environment?

First, let’s define teamwork and perhaps the answer to our question will become clearer. Teamwork means the combined action of a group of individuals, working towards a common goal. Each individual on the team must do his own job in support of the team reaching its goal, i.e. winning. In business, winning equates to high productivity supporting profitable sales and retained earnings.
This doesn’t mean two people working together on the same task to reach the same goal–that’s redundant–unless, of course, the particular job requires two or more people to perform. Even then, if broken down further, each person must have individual tasks that he performs to further the team towards the goal of greater productivity and greater profitability.

Teamwork requires a few common acknowledgments such as what the united goal is and what constitutes “winning”? Every team member must know what role each individual on the team is to perform in order for the team as a whole to reach its goal. If everyone knows the overall objective, and if each individual on the team also knows their own role and acts accordingly to the best of their ability, that is a winning team approach and attitude, making victory possible. Any lack of understanding of the above components renders the team nonfunctional and incapable of winning.

There are, however, additional components to this equation which require consideration such as vision, passion and intent. Three big words that further define a winning team. Acting individually towards a common goal is a requirement but will not on its own create a winning team. A vision of what winning is, being able to see it and believing you can achieve it combined with the passion to win no matter what the opposition may bring to you. That’s what teamwork and winning is truly all about. And, of course, there must also be a leader (or a number of leaders) on the team, helping to direct and harness the passion and inspire the team members to perform individually at their best. Now, we have a team that is capable of winning.

A vision shared by all, defined team goals, defined individual roles, vision, passion, inspiration, leadership… this is teamwork.