Fosteringteamworkiscreatingaworkculturethatvaluescollaboration.Inateamworkenvironment,peopleunderstandandbelievethatthinking,planning,decisionsandactionsarebetterwhendonecooperatively.Peoplerecognize,andevenassimilate,thebeliefthat“noneofusisasgoodasallofus.”(HighFive)

　　It’shardtofindworkplacesthatexemplifyteamwork.InAmerica,ourinstitutionssuchasschools,ourfamilystructures,andourpastimesemphasizewinning,beingthebest,andcomingoutontop.Workersarerarelyraisedinenvironmentsthatemphasizetrueteamworkandcollaboration.

　　Organizationsareworkingonvaluingdiversepeople,ideas,backgrounds,andexperiences.Wehavemilestogobeforevaluingteamsandteamworkwillbethenorm.

　　Youcan,however,createateamworkculturebydoingjustafewthingsright.Admittedly,they’rethehardthings,butwithcommitmentandappreciationforthevalue,youcancreateanoverallsenseofteamworkinyourorganization.

　　CreateaCultureofTeamwork

　　Tomaketeamworkhappen,thesepowerfulactionsmustoccur.

　　Executiveleaderscommunicatetheclearexpectationthatteamworkandcollaborationareexpected.Noonecompletelyownsaworkareaorprocessallbyhimself.Peoplewhoownworkprocessesandpositionsareopenandreceptivetoideasandinputfromothersontheteam.

　　Executivesmodelteamworkintheirinteractionwitheachotherandtherestoftheorganization.Theymaintainteamworkevenwhenthingsaregoingwrongandthetemptationistoslipbackintoformerteamunfriendlybehavior.

　　Theorganizationmemberstalkaboutandidentifythevalueofateamworkculture.Ifvaluesareformallywrittenandshared,teamworkisoneofthekeyfiveorsix.

　　Teamworkisrewardedandrecognized.Theloneranger,evenifsheisanexcellentproducer,isvaluedlessthanthepersonwhoachievesresultswithothersinteamwork.Compensation,bonuses,andrewardsdependoncollaborativepracticesasmuchasindividualcontributionandachievement.

　　Importantstoriesandfolklorethatpeoplediscusswithinthecompanyemphasizeteamwork.(Remembertheyearthecapsuleteamreducedscrapby20percent?)Peoplewho“dowell”andarepromotedwithinthecompanyareteamplayers.

　　Theperformancemanagementsystemplacesemphasisandvalueonteamwork.Often360degreefeedbackisintegratedwithinthesystem.

　　TipsforTeamBuilding

　　Doyouimmediatelypictureyourgroupoffataresortplayinggamesorhangingfromropeswhenyouthinkofteambuilding?Traditionally,manyorganizationsapproachedteambuildingthisway.Then,theywonderedwhythatwonderfulsenseofteamwork,experiencedattheretreatorseminar,failedtoimpactlongtermbeliefsandactionsbackatwork.

　　I’mnotaversetoretreats,planningsessions,seminarsandteambuildingactivities–infactIleadthem-buttheyhavetobepartofalargerteamworkeffort.Youwillnotbuildteamworkby“retreating”asagroupforacoupleofdayseachyear.Thinkofteambuildingassomethingyoudoeverysingleday.

　　Formteamstosolverealworkissuesandtoimproverealworkprocesses.Providetraininginsystematicmethodssotheteamexpendsitsenergyontheproject,notonfiguringouthowtoworktogetherasateamtoapproachit.

　　Holddepartmentmeetingstoreviewprojectsandprogress,toobt