How to unite a work team? Our 7 tips
The success of a project is the result of the team that carries it out. It depends on the quality of the collaborators who make up this team, their motivation and their involvement in the project. It is therefore essential to form high-performance and close-knit teams .
What is team cohesion? Definition
Team cohesion corresponds to the ability of team members to work together in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. It is measured by the mutual aid, solidarity, communication, motivation and satisfaction of the members of the team. Having a cohesive team has several advantages for the company, such as improving productivity, reducing conflicts, increasing creativity and innovation. It is essential to understand the issues and the tools to develop a high performing team. However, building a work team is not so simple: do you need to recruit more? How to enhance individual skills? Should an expert be brought in via an interim management firm ?
Discover in this article 7 tips for uniting a work team .
How to have a cohesive team?
When working in a company, the success of a project often depends on the efficiency of the team responsible for carrying it out. To achieve the objectives set, it is essential to have a close-knit team, where each member works in harmony and in collaboration. A cohesive team is beneficial at all levels for the company , because it increases productivity, improves the quality of projects, fosters innovation and reduces costs.
But how can you unite a work team? First of all, it is important to understand what is meant by “team cohesion”. It is the ability of a team to work together effectively and harmoniously to achieve ambitious goals. Team cohesion is not only limited to good understanding between members, but it also involves clear and honest communication, collective decision-making and a shared global vision.
To unite a team, several factors must be taken into account. First of all, it is essential to set up effective conflict management , in order to avoid tensions within the team. Promoting diversity and inclusion is also important to encourage openness and mutual understanding.
Ongoing training is another key to maintaining a cohesive team. By providing personal and professional development opportunities to each member of the team, you show them that you believe in them and that you encourage them to improve.
The 4 pillars of team cohesion
There are different types of teams, each with its own characteristics. Functional teams, for example, are made up of members with specific and complementary skills. Project teams, on the other hand, are created to carry out a specific project and are often temporary. Autonomous teams, on the other hand, are responsible for the entire production process.
It is not enough to group individuals to create an effective team. To have a cohesive team, it is necessary to put in place the 4 pillars of team cohesion .
- Communication
Communication is the most important pillar of team cohesion . Clear, regular and constructive communication allows team members to understand each other and express their ideas. Members must be able to listen to each other, respect each other and be open to the ideas of others. It is important to encourage members to communicate their opinions without fear of judgment or criticism, so that everyone feels involved in the initiative-taking process.
- Trust
Trust is the second pillar that strengthens team cohesion. Team members need to trust each other to work together effectively. Each member should be honest about their abilities, limitations, expectations and fears. It’s also important to honor each other’s commitments, recognize team accomplishments, and work together to overcome obstacles.
- The collaboration
Collaboration is the third pillar that strengthens team cohesion . Members must work together to achieve team goals. For this, it is important to clearly define everyone’s roles and responsibilities and to ensure that everyone knows what they must do. Collaboration must be encouraged and valued to create momentum and have a positive impact.
- The respect
Respect is another key element of team cohesion. Each member should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their role on the team. It is important to create an environment where everyone feels listened to and valued.
1. Question yourself
To unite your team, you must first question yourself:
- What are the problems encountered in the service?
- Do you have any problems in terms of procedure or communication?
Questioning through a brainstorming meeting is a method used to stimulate questioning and reflection , and allow participants to analyze the various professional situations they encounter.
Its purpose is to promote the emergence of a better knowledge of oneself and of others, through an awareness of one’s own values, opinions and behaviors.
2. Listen and decide
The manager must listen to his collaborators in order to share the same values and motivations. He must be able to decide according to the needs, expectations and wishes of the team.
Listening to your collaborators allows you to have a clearer vision of your team and therefore to identify the types of personalities: the most motivated in their work, those who have difficulties and those who do not participate in the work team.
Just because someone is silent doesn’t mean they’re not participating. She can be introverted and not very talkative.
On the other side, the manager decides in which direction the team should go. He must also be able to respond to his collaborators in the event of a misunderstanding of the directives given.
A good manager is able to listen and communicate their needs and goals to the team . The manager is the first who must lead by example, that is to say, he must be faithful to the values he instills in his team.
3. Set goals
Then you have to set goals with your collaborators. The objectives set must be realistic and must correspond to the expectations of the company and the needs of the team.
After having established the objectives, the manager must communicate them to the whole team: he must be able to make his collaborators understand why they must achieve these objectives.
In addition, to motivate your team, it is advisable to introduce rewards.
Once the objectives are achieved, you can offer your team a bonus, gift certificates, or even a trip abroad.
Having a common goal with a reward will allow your team to give themselves the means to go in the same direction and therefore, to weld together .
4. Demonstrate trust
As a manager, you have to trust your employees.
You must know that your employees can make an essential contribution to the functioning of the company , but this can only work on two conditions: that you have confidence in your employees and that the employees have confidence in you.
It is something that takes time, but is essential for the success of a team.
5. Encourage communication
A manager must encourage communication between his collaborators and share their ideas , suggestions and opinions .
A team that communicates is a team that is more productive. When team members can chat about anything and everything, communication becomes more fluid.
Encouraging communication with your collaborators will have the positive consequence of improving teamwork.
Teamwork is an important factor in helping you manage your team better . You should know that most management problems are solved through teamwork. It is important that team members work together for a common goal. Indeed, it allows you to achieve the company’s objectives more quickly.
Encouraging communication also optimizes the use of each member of the team. It is important to emphasize the need for exchanges and discussions between the manager and the employees to improve the effectiveness of the team.
6. Organize friendly moments between employees
Organizing convivial moments between employees is another way of encouraging communication.
These moments dedicated to exchanges are opportunities for employees to discuss freely with each other. This allows you to get to know each other and to forge links between team members.
However, these convivial moments must be regular and organized with the consent of the employees.
This can translate into different types of moments: restaurants at lunchtime, afterwork, Team Building seminars in an original place in France, or even abroad (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, etc.).
Informal moments will improve communication with your employees once they return to the office.
7. Involve an Interim Manager
You want to bring your team closer together to encourage their involvement and motivation in your company. There is a solution to help you in this situation: recruit an Interim Manager.
A transition manager is a person who will come to settle for a few weeks or a few months in the company.
Endowed with managerial expertise, the Interim Manager is called upon to listen to employees, to get to know their needs, their difficulties, their expectations.
He will then help them develop their potential in the company by using their know-how and skills.
He acts as an advisor and support to develop, implement and evaluate action and organizational strategies.
The Interim Manager will have to deal with different types of situations internally:
- Restore the balance of a team,
- Re-organize teams,
- Create a new “state of mind” in a reluctant team or a difficult terrain,
- Support a manager in difficulty.
An Interim Manager has all the necessary skills to overcome the crises encountered internally.
Uniting a team is a crucial step in the success of the company . Through an action of Interim Manager, a team can be mobilized, motivate and make its collaborators proud to work together. Use an interim management firm: Réactive Executive has the skills to advise you and promote communication that will help you build your team.
