Being a manager means you necessarily must work with other people. In other words, you need to be a team leader – hence, a team builder. The end goal of team building is a team that works effortlessly together as one united, cohesive unit. You may wonder if team building is really all that important or relevant. How you approach or even think about this idea of team building will determine whether you are successful or not. Why? Because without a successful team, your best efforts fall flat. Let’s take a look at 4 reasons why team building is more important than you may think.
Your team is more than mere employees
It’s easy to go to work and look at our “team” and see them as just “employees.” Yet, they are much more than that. They have the potential to make or break the company. Why is this so? Their failure means your business fails or you have to work 10 times as hard. Their achievements and success mean the business succeeds. This puts into perspective the importance of building up your team. A powerful team means a powerful business.
A team that is united will stand
You are probably familiar with this historical saying, “united we stand, divided we fall.” It holds a good deal of truth. When any group of people bind together and unite for a common cause or goal, then they are stronger than if they work individually. If you think about the strength of a single thread, it doesn’t seem like much. But multiply that numerous times, and you have a strong rope that can hold down heavy loads. The same is said for the team that links together in a united effort.
An old English proverb fits in with this thought also. It says, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” That certainly applies to teams. When one team member is struggling, it can bring down the rest of the team. Hence, the case for building the team.
You are married to your team
Let’s face it, you are in a relationship with your team. I know, it doesn’t sound too romantic but who else do you spend this much time with? You are basically married to the team, and because of this, it’s so critical to build your team in the right way. No one wants to go through a “divorce.” So carefully select those employees who are:
- Committed to the goals of the company.
- A good fit with the culture of the business.
- Willing to grow and learn as the business grows.
- Able to take constructive reviews from time to time.
- Emotionally intelligent.
- Flexible and able to adapt to change.
Strong teams are a reflection of your brand
Your brand image is an important part of your overall marketing strategy. Your team is in some ways an ambassador for your company. They are probably who your customers see or communicate with, so their competence (or lack thereof) will reflect on your brand. A cohesive team presents an image of a business that is solid, trustworthy, sturdy, unchanging, strong – everything that would attract a customer no matter what type of industry you are in. Whether it’s retail, manufacturing, sales, or finances, these characteristics evoke a sense of confidence. That’s a positive brand image to have — another reason to be sure the team is cohesive.
Investing time and energy into team building activities is more important than some people think. With a strong and cohesive team, everyone works together more effectively and efficiently. In addition, your business benefits because of the enhanced brand image it gets when the team is working as a unit. For tips on implementing team building strategies and finding top talent, contact us today.
