Cooperation is a tough dynamic to foster. You must pay
careful attention to all the elements of effective teamwork, adjusting your
approach as necessary to accommodate the personalities of the team members. But
with thoughtful planning and organization, as well as the right kinds of
motivation, you can make any team more effective.
Communication
Each team member must know what her
teammates are doing, especially if the project is complex. Open lines of
communication -- among peers and also with the supervisor -- allows the entire
team to respond quickly to unforeseen events. For example, suppose a personal
emergency causes one team member to miss an upcoming deadline. Rapid
communication among the other members allows them to quickly pick up the slack.
Effective
Interpersonal Relations
Even simple projects require
effective interpersonal relations. For example, a team leader must be an
effective manager, offering guidance and encouragement to under-performing team
members and keeping tabs on everyone’s progress. The team members also must
work together well, not competing for credit, but rather focusing on how to
help, or at least not impede, their teammates. Also, team members must maintain
functional relationships with the team leader, for example, by being open to
criticism and following directions well.
Task
Delegation
If a team leader doesn't delegate tasks well, the team can't capitalize on
the primary advantage of teamwork: differentiated skills. Abilities and
experience vary among team members, so the project’s assignments should be
based on who can best perform each task. The overall effect of smart task
delegation is efficiency. If everyone does what he is best at, the team
functions at its highest possible level.
